Coaches teach, but players lead. This is especially true for LSU’s women’s tennis program. 
Senior Kennan Johnson, senior Jessica Golovin and junior Paris Corley make up the only upperclassmen of the 9-player team. They assume the leadership roles to help guide and propel younger athletes like sophomore Eden Richardson and others on the team.
Having such a small team heightens the impact of strong leaders more than other sports.
“It’s hard not to notice little things,” Corley said. 
With a more magnified sense of what each teammate is feeling, each leader is given an idea of what each teammate needs in various aspects of their life.
“I think the three of us try to get together more often and try to support the team as much as we can and be there for each other,” Golovin said.
Their roles extend from the court to the personal lives of each teammate. Johnson said that their leadership shows every day whether it’s after someone loses a match, or when someone is dealing with their own personal struggles.
Coaches are only allowed to do so much for their student-athletes. The upperclassmen often fill that role and lead captain’s practice, an athlete driven practice during the off-season where players aren’t allowed to be on the court with the coaches.
Leaders taking over a coach’s role when one is not around is just as crucial to the team’s success as the individual’s success. Richardson found guidance and great success in her freshman season at LSU, being selected to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship.
Richardson thanked the upperclassmen for their leadership and said, “keep going because it really does help, not just with me but with everyone on the team.”

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Courtesy of LSU Sports

Paris Corley eyes a backhand return. Courtesy LSU Athletics