The 2026 season is about McPherson’s Quinn Liebl and Avery Unruh getting one last chance to compete together.
The McPherson High School doubles partners have been playing together since they were 11 years old, building a partnership that has already produced regional championships, league titles and a state doubles medal. Now, with their high school careers nearing an end, the two seniors are hoping to finish together at the top.
“I am most excited about playing my last year with the person I’ve been playing doubles with since I was 11 years old,” Liebl said. “I love our team and I think we have a really good shot at State this year!”
Unruh shares that excitement, although she admits there is a bittersweet feeling that comes with knowing her final season is approaching.
“I’m most excited to simply enjoy my last season playing high school tennis,” Unruh said. “I have played tennis my entire life, so seeing this chapter end is a little bittersweet, but I’m excited to see what happens and watch my hard work pay off.”
That hard work has continued throughout the offseason.
Unruh spent much of the summer on the court, attending group lessons three times a week, playing doubles once a week and taking one or two private lessons each week. She also devoted time to improving the mental side of her game.
“I’ve worked on my mental focus along with my physical tennis skills, hoping to get ready as best as I can for this season,” Unruh said.
Liebl also spent the offseason preparing at Salina Genesis several times a week while participating in McPherson’s weekly MacAdvantage camp.
The work was not limited to physical skills. Liebl focused on learning how to remain composed after difficult points, an adjustment she believes has already made a difference.
“During the offseason, I worked on my mental stability and being able to relax and move on after especially hard points,” Liebl said. “I never would have thought about how much it has already helped me!”
The preparation comes after another strong season for the doubles team.
Last season, Unruh and Liebl posted a 31-4 record and finished third in 4A state doubles. They also helped McPherson finish as the team state runner-up for the third consecutive year. The pair won the regional doubles championship and helped the team win regionals as well.
They reached at least the semifinals of every tournament they played in and won six tournaments during the season. Their individual accomplishments included first-team all-state and all-league honors for Unruh, along with academic all-state recognition.
For Liebl, last season marked her second consecutive year reaching the state tournament with Unruh. As a sophomore, the duo finished third in 4A state doubles and McPherson finished second as a team. As a freshman, Liebl and her partner placed seventh.
The pair also won regional championships both seasons, while earning a league championship last year.
Now, they have one final opportunity to finish the job.
“I hope to win state individually and as a team this year,” Liebl said. “McPherson has come short as runner-up three years in a row now, and I want to break that streak.”
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