The fortune of a sports program can change on a dime.

The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy girls’ tennis program is currently experiencing the positive side of that reality.

NSA athletic director Betty Jean Riddick said, “We’ve had a lot of success with the varsity girls’ tennis program,” but it has not really been in recent years.

Suddenly, this year, the Lady Saints hold a 7-2 record overall and are 4-1 in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools.

“I definitely think we have a shot at a state title this year,” NSA girls’ tennis coach Lindsay Raulston said.

There are several reasons why that is true, and Raulston is one of them.

In May, she graduated from the University of Mary Washington, where she played varsity tennis from 2010-2014.

During that time, she accumulated a variety of accolades, including being named an All-American in singles and doubles, and at one point, she was ranked sixth in the nation among all Division III tennis players.

Before college, she actually had the chance to be a Lady Saint.

“My mom actually wanted me to go to NSA for tennis purposes, because they were pretty good back then,” Raulston said, but she ended up going to Southampton Academy.

Coming into the coaching job this year, she had learned the tenor of the previous season for Nansemond-Suffolk.

“They were shocked that they made the state tournament last year,” Raulston said.

She admitted she had no idea what to expect this year, but that quickly changed once the season began.

“As soon as we got to our first match and we realized that we were that competitive with (Hampton Roads Academy) — we lost 5-4 — I think it really turned a switch with the team.”

Now she does expect a lot, and her top two players are a couple of the primary reasons.

No. 1 spot on the team is occupied by one of its youngest members — sophomore Elvie Sellers, who just turned 16. Filling the No. 2 spot is junior Ria Khandpur.

They stand out particularly because tennis is their primary sport. They take lessons and even participate in tournaments outside of school.

“Tennis is such a finesse sport, you have to play a lot to be the best,” Raulston said, and Sellers and Khandpur have mastered shots like topspin forehands and backhands.

“To compete with the teams at the one and two positions, you need to be able to have all of those shots, and they both definitely do,” Raulston said. “They’re just really coachable.”

Sellers said she is proud to be on such a successful squad.

“I try my hardest to do what I can for my team.”

Raulston said the team also benefits heavily from having seven seniors, who provide important leadership. Among them, Holly Kozak stands out for her ability to hustle, while Savannah Pharr hits with the best serve on the team.

Providing her reaction to the team’s success, Khandpur said, “I get really excited. It motivated me even more to do better, and I feel like we actually do have a chance.”

Nansemond-Suffolk and HRA are the top two teams currently in the state at the Division II level for the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association and have played each other twice, with the Lady Navigators coming out on top both times.

“I’m really looking forward to play them again at states and coming out with a victory this time,” Raulston said.