Duo Heads to Orlando This Weekend with Team NorCal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior tennis standouts Kiya and Kyla Jackson will travel to Orlando this weekend for the USTA Junior Team Coed Nationals with their team based at Laguna Creek Racquet Club.

“We worked so hard this summer,” said Kyla Jackson. “We are hoping to play against really good people, have fun and represent NorCal.”

The team is comprised of the Jacksons, Alex Fung, Luke Gravel, Jeremy Schuber, Jaylynn Tan, Patrick Wall, and Hallie Wilson representing several high schools including St. Francis, Franklin, Pleasant Grove, Cosumnes Oaks and Mira Loma High Schools. They are coached by Mark Fairchilds, Jesse Pangilinan, Chris Wall and Nathan Saragoza.

The Jackson sisters, who are twins, are in the midst of their senior seasons with the St. Francis tennis team, helping the Troubadours to an undefeated start to the 2017 season (9-0).

“It is going really good,” said Kiya. “We are really good all the way down (the lineup). We have grown and developed since my freshman year. I love being on the team.”

For Head Coach Kristi Spector, they have been a blessing to the program, once she learned to tell them apart.

“They have meant a lot,” said Head Coach Kristi Spector. “I have had them since freshman year and I have loved them since I first met them. They have grown as players and women. I love coaching them. They are a great inspiration for the younger players coming in. They lead the team and show them how to act with grace, etiquette and hard work.”

Senior Marisa Fat has played with Kiya and Kyla for all four years.

“The twins have meant so much to me and rest of the team,” said Fat. “They have just come up and destroyed the court but they were the most gracious twins ever. They are so cute. It did take me a year and half to know which was which bit now I know them from the front and back. They are super special to our team and they are the girl version of the Bryan brothers.”

Kiya and Kyla are both versatile players that have contributed up and down the lineup, helping the team to the CIF NorCals last year and their second straight league championship.

“They are a perfect example for having to make adjustments,” said Spector. “They have played high up on the ladder, 2and 3, 3 and 4 and this year playing 4 and 6 not for any other reason there are a lot of really good players coming in. They are showing everyone that no matter what position you play, you are part of the team and you are just as important.”

Individually they have been named to the Sacramento RiverCats All-City team and were the Sac-Joaquin Section doubles champs last year. Doubles is their specialty.

“They are great doubles players,” said Spector. “They play a lot together and they can truly read each other’s minds. They support one another and know how each other are feeling. They are each other’s biggest supporters.”

They admit the twin connection is real for these two, a helpful advantage on the court.

“We have a unique connection that I don’t have with any other partner,” said Kiya. “We know each other very well and how we like to play together. We trust each other.”

They have played together on the court since the age of six so the thought of the possibility of splitting up next year in college is foreign to them.

“We are not sure if we are going to be split up,” said Kyla. “We are applying to the same schools. It is a possibility but we might be in the same area. My top (choice) is UC Irvine and Kiya’s is UC San Diego.”

So they are taking advantage of all the time together, just in case it is the final year together.

“It is really special because I don’t know if we are going to play together in college,” said Kyla. “We are going to make the most of it this year. We support each other and are really are in sync. We are there to support each other no matter what.”

This weekend will add to their many memories together on the court with their second appearance in the USTA National event.