KNOX, IN. - Sometimes coaches just know. As the 2023 Indiana high school girls tennis season got started, LaVille head girls tennis coach Melissa Haisley and her assistant, Kaitlyn Howard, put together a line up for the first match of the year. And as the 2023 season further unfold, LaVille head girls tennis coach Melissa Haisley made a few changes To start the season, LaVille senior Lauren Hominiuk was playing No.2 singles, a pair of foreign exchange students held down #1 doubles - Franny Locatelli and Emily Atkinson - and senior Annabelle Miller started at No. 3 singles. Hanna Girst and Sydnee Miller were at No. 2 doubles. Haisley, and assistant Kaitlyn Howard, knew something just didn't feel right."We had the feeling that things weren't clicking," recalled Haisley. "Pretty much like the first couple matches they played, it just wasn't right. We talked to them about making some changes." The LaVille coach said that she had a chat with Hominiuk."Lauren had come to me, we had a discussion and she just was not comfortable at singles," said Hailsey. "Emily and Frannie were at No.1 doubles, so we completely changed up the whole line up." The new line-up found Locatelli in the No. 2 singles slot, foreign exchange student Emily Meissner at No. 3 singles, and the duo of Hominiuk and Atkinson at No. 1 doubles. Annabelle joined her sister at No. 2 doubles. According to Haisley, Hominiuk had played doubles before so that helped in the transition."Lauren had played doubles," the LaVille coach said. "It just felt like it was a better fit for her. And Frannie was in a better place to play singles.It ended up being a better move for both of them. And in practice, it just looked more comfortable for both of them. It was a better flow." After a couple matches, the coaching staff met with the team again to get a progress report."Everybody agreed it was a better move for everyone," said Haisley. "They felt more comfortable and felt happier." Those changes ultimately proved to be beneficial as LaVille played better tennis.The improvement may not have shown on the scoreboard, but Lancer tennis had better flow."The No. 1 doubles team was winning and growing," acknowledged Haisley. "It was really a good move for Lauren and Emily. The best move for Frannie. You could feel it, you could see it. We had a better flow." That change proved to pay dividends for Hominiuk and Atkinson.The duo put together a fine 8-1 mark in Hoosier North Athletic Conference play and won the No. 1 doubles title.LaVille's Hominiuk and Atkinson opened the HNAC Championships with a straight set victory over Knox - 6-4, 6-1.That victory set up a rematch with the duo of Howell and Westafer from Triton. The Trojan pair was the only blemish on the HNAC record of Hominiuk and Atkinson."We were both very nervous," said Hominiuk when asked about how they were feeling before the match. "Our only loss in conference play came against Triton. We had a lot on our shoulders. We both wanted to win."Keeping serve and breaking serve played an instrumental role in a 6-3 victory for the Lancer pair in the first set."In the first set, our spirits were high," recalled Hominiuk of the opening portion of the HNAC Final. "We had our mojo going. We were very confident. Once you get up a game or two, you get a little lead on them and that kinda just sets us up for more success." The second set was a dogfight. It went back and forth, with each team holding serve."In the second set, we were down 0-2 when they got a game back on Emily's serve," recalled Haisley. "They got a little out of sync for a couple of games, but on the changeover we discussed a few changes and reminders. They went back out and got up 3-2 and from there it was back and forth until it was tied at 6-6. During the tiebreaker, LaVille got off to a good start in the tie-break. "It kind of was nails the whole time," said Hominiuk. "We held and got a little lead. It got to a point where it was 6-3 . . . we had that 3-point cushion. We knew we just needed one point. You felt good, but we didn't want to celebrate too early."Even though you have a partner, getting that lead helps you so much. It definitely helps you feel safer. We were aggressive." In looking back, there were a couple of moments that were key."One of the biggest moments was getting the momentum back and forcing the tiebreaker," continued Haisley. "Also on the last forehand/passing shot Emily made to win it. Lauren turned to Emily and the both yelled and raised their racquets and hugged. It was a great moment for them, for all of us." With that passing shot by Atkinson, Lancer tennis won the No. 1 doubles conference championship for the second year in a row. This time, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) over Triton."It was neck and neck," explained Hominiuk. "We won on our serve and they won on their serve. We started to get scared. We really didn't want to go into a third set and our nerves got the best of us. But we knew we had it in us. Tennis is so mental. We are focused on just having fun and being very level headed. That definitely helped to keep us together as a unit." As the LaVille duo turned to leave the court, Hominiuk and Atkinson were greeted by the 2022 No. 1 HNAC doubles champions - Lauren Dove and MaKenna Tribbey."It was nice to be on the same court with Lauren and Tribbey," said Hominiuk. "We got to share that HNAC moment with them. It was such a great feeling. It's a great way to end the conference and your senior season. "It's Emily's first year. I am so proud of her. We have a good dynamic. We are there for each other and we have each other's back. It took us a couple of matches to get going. It was different, but in the best way." In the end, sometimes coaches just know.