Stepping up as assistant coach for Indian River’s girls’ tennis team was no tough decision last year for Karen Oliphant. This year, she’s replacing Elizabeth Tiffany as head coach, and Oliphant said she is as ready as ever.
Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT:
Girls’ coach Karen Oliphant steps up this year as head coach for Indian River. Above, she instructs Ramsey Reuther during Monday’s match against Stephen Decatur.
In some aspects, she almost seems destined for the position as head coach. “I had a racquet in my hand ever since I was two years old,” said the Long Island native. Her father, who taught tennis lessons and techniques at country clubs for over 40 years, never pressured her.
“I have three other sisters,” she said, “so I was never forced into it.”
She played tennis growing up and through high school, but Oliphant took to the track, running while attending the University of Delaware for her undergraduate degree. She later obtained her master’s in school administration from the University of Massachusetts before settling in Sussex County.
Teaching Spanish in schools for 11 years brought her to areas througout the state, but she was determined to establish herself in the Indian River school district.
“My sister was teaching at Sussex Central, and I was going to do anything I could to get down there,” she said. “I fell in love with the area, and I’ve always enjoyed working with high school kids.” So when the opportunity to teach at Indian River arrived four years ago, Oliphant jumped at the opportunity.
As head coach of the girls’ tennis team, she said she carries with her the same philosophy she’d always believed in while growing up: healthy body, healthy mind. “I don’t just put the girls out on the court,” she said. “Every day, they run and I try to get them to eat right. I just really want what’s best for the girls.”
Three dozen girls came out for tryouts, which is a larger number than usual, Oliphant said. Returning prospects were encouraged to take lessons or at least continue swinging a racquet through the off-season.
From there, the group was whittled down to a fairly young team, comprising two seniors, two freshmen and the rest sophomores. “It’s different having such a young team,” she said, “but I’m really hoping to see some improvement with the returning girls this year. It’s been tough figuring out the new lineup.”
One easy decision, though, was sophomore, Ramsey Reuther, returning this year, once again at first-singles. With a 3-2 team win to open the season against Lake Forest, and two 2-3 losses, to Stephen Decatur and Seaford, Reuther said there are a number of things she’s hoping to improve on this season.
“I have to work on my strategy and work hard at the net,” she said. “We lost a lot of great girls last year, so there are some shoes to fill.”
Overall, though, Reuther is satisfied with the outlook of the season and is excited to have Oliphant coaching. “She plays with us, runs with us, and really knows what she’s talking about,” Reuther said. “She helps us out lot, and it makes it a lot easier with that connection.”
Oliphant’s team hosted Smyrna on Thursday, March 29, after the Coastal Point’s deadline. The ladies of Indian River will look to capitalize in a rematch against Stephen Decatur on Tuesday, followed by Wednesday’s match up in Milford.