DANVILLE — In the midst of reflecting on the remarkable girls’ tennis season, Reese Rundle took a moment to ponder her favorite aspect. Meanwhile, Anna Houpt had a clear destination in mind.

Unmatched State Experience

"Throughout the entire state tournament, the experience is truly unrivaled. Specifically, the Saturday matches at state always stand out. You feel a sense of gratitude for reaching that far, and regardless of the outcome, there's always something to be proud of," Houpt shared. Rundle patiently waited for her teammate to finish before adding her thoughts."The way we played this year was simply surreal. In our first Saturday match, it was as if we were on a different level. We were just focused and knew we had nothing to lose. That determination carried us through," Rundle said.The match they both referred to was their Class 1A state doubles quarterfinal against Hinsdale South's Hailey Goins and Teodora Savic. With a convincing 6-2, 6-0 victory, the Danville duo advanced to the semifinals. There, they faced eventual state champions Shane Delaney and Clare Lopatka from Benet Academy and unfortunately fell 6-2, 6-1. However, in the consolation match, they bounced back by defeating Benet Academy's second team of Natalie Grover and Katie Jendra 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, securing third place. This marked the highest state placement in Danville tennis history.

Doubles and Singles Success

As a doubles team, Rundle and Houpt went an astonishing 36-3, winning both the Big 12 Conference and sectional championships. But their achievements didn't stop there. Anna was equally impressive in singles action, compiling a record of 20-1 at No. 1 singles, while Rundle was 19-2 in the No. 2 position. They could have easily competed as singles players in the postseason, as both made it to the state tournament in 2023. But they decided early on that partnering together would give them a better chance at a state run."Since the summer, we had a clear goal. Mentally, we both knew what we were capable of. I love playing singles, but doubles is a whole new experience. It's easier to relax and have fun with Reese," Anna said.

Building Chemistry and Confidence

The key to their success lies in the relationship they developed over the past two years. They were already friends, but it took time to build on-court chemistry. Coach Kathy Houpt explained that last year, they weren't ready to take on the postseason as a doubles team. Looking back, they agreed that it was a learning experience."Our first year as a doubles team, we bonded well, but our on-court chemistry needed some work. We were both singles players before, so learning to work together on our strengths was a challenge. This year, something just clicked, and every match felt perfect," Rundle said.In addition, before discovering their potential as a unit, they had to figure out who would take the lead."Last year was a bit strange as we had both played with former seniors and weren't in the leading role. We were looking at each other, wondering what to do. But once we got over those nerves and overthinking, we became confident and trusted each other," Anna added.

Continuing the Tradition

Anna and Rundle's accomplishments are a testament to the success of Danville players before them. Rachel Lewis was the first Viking to win Player of the Year in 2013, laying the foundation for future champions. Lauren Ellis followed in 2018, and Lexi Ellis did it four years later while leading the team to a third-place state finish. Now, Anna and Rundle have taken it to another level."Anna and Reese were part of a strong team that finished third at state. They watched and learned from that, and now they're paving the way for the next generation. Reese is leaving, but Anna still has another year. We have several freshmen coming in, and it's exciting to see how they'll continue the tradition," Kathy said.Their achievements have set a high bar for future Danville tennis players, and they hope the tradition will continue.