KNIGHTDALE - Things didn't turn out too pretty for the Knightdale women's tennis team in its season opener against Enloe, but coach Brandon Kimble pointed out that Enloe is no Greater Neuse team.

Kimble said the 9-0 Eagle sweep is something his team will learn from and hopefully grow on as the conference schedule approaches.

"It's definitely tougher playing those kids from right there in the city," he said. "The biggest difference is we don't have the lit courts, the summer teams and things like that out here."

This season marks Kimble's second stab at coaching tennis, his first with the women's team. He coached the men in the spring, and said his first season with the men's team helped with the transition into the coaching position. He said he's picking up more and more on the game each day.

There's no shock factor in Kimble picking up another coaching position - even in what to him may be a foreign sport. He coaches year-round now between two tennis seasons, basketball in the winter and AAU hoops in the summer. He's familiar with managing a group of athletes and despite the loss to Enloe Kimble said he believed his squad gave all it had in the opener.

"This is a tough early match against a Cap-7 school, but hopefully it will prove valuable later on in the season," the coach said.

This year's net squad is comprised of 60 percent seniors. Upper classmen account for 80 percent of the roster.

Of the eight players returning to the team, the six that started last year include Allison Adams, Morgan Nelson, Julianna Womble, Caitlin Harmon, Emily White and Paige Peterson. All are seniors but Harmon, who is a junior. Junior Anhsaly Namsaly and senior Elizabeth Ellison complete the list of returnees and freshman Magdalena Pintos and sophomore Savanna Wall make up the future of the squad.

"It's pleasing coaching so many returning players. It certainly makes my job easier as coach. They'll have their goofy moments on occasion, but they know when to listen. That's what makes them a pleasure to coach," Kimble said. "They're good students and just good girls in general. I anticipate them to do really well."

By "really well," Kimble said he thinks the team can be in the thick of things when the conference season winds down. He said he doesn't know too much more than that which has historically been expected of the teams in the Greater Neuse - Clayton should be strong, and he's expecting Garner and Smithfield-Selma to perform at or above par.

Kimble will likely carry such knowledge into battle as the team faces its second match and first conference meeting of the season today, Wednesday, against the Spartans in Smithfield. The road match begins at 4 p.m.