EDENTON — John A. Holmes High’s tennis team is leading the conference and looks poised for a good shot at the state’s 2A championship.
The Aces were 13-3 overall and 6-0 in conference play as of Tuesday afternoon. That record puts Holmes, at least temporarily, among the top five in state 2A competition, according to the N.C. High School Athletic Association.
Matera said the size of his coaching staff — himself, Nelson Spear and Deanna Chesson — allows practices to be divided into three groups for targeted instruction. Each team member is encouraged to improve by one percent each day.
Holmes’ regular singles lineup consists of Maycee Hughes, Parker Ford, Maci Nixon, Aubryn Bunch, Minzy Preciado and Judit Ambrosia-Reyes. Anna Walston, Margo Simmons, Sophie Gibbs and Lily Wheedleton have gained experience through exhibition matches.
The 10-player roster includes one senior, six juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen. Preciado, the team’s only senior, has accepted a larger role and provided leadership on and off the court.
Matera said he did not want to identify one or two standout players. Instead, he said coaches measure players by whether they follow instructions, support their teammates and perform their assigned roles.
He said he handles scheduling and organizational duties for the program, while veteran assistants Spear and Chesson focus on instruction.
That approach has helped Holmes overcome injuries and growing pains that Matera said gave the 2026 season a slow start. Some of the players had to accept increased responsibilities this year.
“We challenged them to ‘play the hand you are dealt,’ and regardless of your circumstances, ‘you have to go to work,’” Matera said.
A high school tennis team match is scored based on nine points: six in singles and three in doubles, with five points needed to win. The team does not have fixed doubles pairs. Combinations may change depending on the score after singles competition. He said experienced players have helped less experienced teammates adjust when the match requires different pairings.
Matera said this year’s team is building on a 2025 squad that finished 14-6 and advanced to the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A playoff.
Holmes has five or six regular-season matches remaining. Matera said he and his coaches are treating each match as another opportunity to improve rather than speculating on playoffs or a possible championship.
He said the players also have a responsibility to respect those who built Holmes’ tennis tradition over the years and earned the statewide recognition it has received. He said this year’s team has the opportunity to leave its own mark, both on the court and off it, using the lessons learned while holding a racket.