Senior Megan Gilliland and sophomore Sarah Gilliland will compete today, April 18, in tennis regionals at Texas Tech after placing second in girls doubles at district April 8. 

Players competed in the district meet at the Rebel Tennis Center over a span of two days. On the first day Megan and Sarah had an automatic win as a 3 seed team for the first round, then won the second round and lost the third round. On the following day they won the playback against a team they were unable to defeat previously in the season.

“The past two times are the only times we’ve played them, and we lost both of them,” Sarah said. “Going into district, we had a mindset of having nothing to lose because if we lose, we’ve already done that, but they’ve got everything to lose because they had the spot for regionals, and we didn’t. If they lose that, then they’re done.”

In the previous match, Megan injured her back but continued into the final match.

“I started crying because it hurt so bad,” Megan said. “I took some pain meds, put an Icy Hot patch on my back and just pushed through, kept playing and ended up winning.”

Sarah said she felt motivated to play better due to her partner’s injury.

“I was just taking it one step at a time,” Sarah said. “I didn’t want to psych myself out by getting ahead of myself and considering the match already lost or won. I always kept the possibility of them making a comeback and winning in mind to keep myself from getting cocky, but getting that win for my sister and my family and everyone watching stayed the main goal.”

Megan said playing with her sister is very different from playing with friends.
“We’re really close but definitely hold each other to higher standard,” Megan said. “We’re able to get mad at each other and really express what we’re thinking just because we’re sisters, and at the end of the day it’s going to be okay.”


Girl’s Doubles
2nd- Megan and Sarah Gilliland
4th- Berkley DeLong and Sarah Tomlinson

Girl’s Singles
3rd- Abi Dillehay
4th- Shelbi Braudt

Boy’s Doubles
3rd- Mason Mooring and Justin Lovell

Boy’s Singles
3rd- Asher Melton