Southwest DeKalb tennis team starts the season with big serve

Southwest DeKalb High School’s tennis team is demonstrating that it serves well not only on the court but in the community as well.

Recently, members of the team spent time volunteering at Open Hand Atlanta by preparing, plating and packaging meals for senior citizens and those who have critical or chronic illness and disabilities.  Team members prepared a total of 800 meals for the home deliveries managed by Open Hand Atlanta, a nutrition-based agency that has been in existence since 1998.

The Southwest DeKalb tennis teams’ involvement in the Open Hand Atlanta community service effort was part of the teams’ coach-mandated “Annual Days of Service and Volunteerism.” Under the initiative, Coach Lance Thomas-Davenport requires team members to actively engage in such endeavors as a way of encouraging them to give back to their communities beyond their high school years into adulthood.

The 2019 girls’ Panthers are led by multi-sport standout Kendall Davis, a junior, who maintains a 4.2 GPA.  The boys’ team is led by college prospects, seniors Javen Gilmore (3.7 GPA) and Khalil Moss; and Division 1 prospect Ajari Mattox (3.8 GPA), a junior.

Both teams have made four consecutive trips to the State Tournament.

The boys’ team started the season with 5-0 earning early wins over Tucker, South Gwinnett, Westlake, Stephenson, and Creekside high schools.

Although the girls’ team dropped its first three contests, they posted three consecutive victories, which came against Stephenson, Miller Grove and Creekside.

The boys have three straight second place finishes in the region. The girls have finished third twice, fourth and second in the region during the past four seasons.

Since 2012, seven Panther tennis players have received collegiate scholarships to play at the next level.