Photo Gallery by Jeff Yoder

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – As individuals Emma and Audrey Koch provide West High with an imposing tandem in the top two spots in its singles lineup.

It’s when the two team up during doubles play that they become downright intimidating.

“They are extremely intimidating,” West High coach Amie Villarini said. “They intimidate me.”

With freshman Audrey at 5-foot-10 and older sister Emma, a junior, an inch taller the Koch sisters are among the tallest, most intimidating doubles teams in the state.

Toss in their all-around tennis talents and the Koch sisters become a frightening matchup for opponents.

The Koch sisters kept their perfect season intact on Tuesday while helping West High (12-0) stay unbeaten as a team with an 8-1 win over cross-town rival City High (5-6) in a Mississippi Valley Conference dual meet at Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center.

“It’s really fun playing together and I think with our height that’s pretty intimidating to other teams,” Emma Koch said. “We are a good balance I think, our games fit really together so it’s been really fun so far.”

Both Emma and Audrey Koch earned singles wins on Tuesday to stay unbeaten on the season.

Emma Koch defeated Bihotza James 10-2 at number one singles to improve to 10-0 on the season.

Audrey Koch downed Carolyn Carter 10-1 at the number two singles spot to push her season record to 10-1.

Jessica Moonjely, Vivian Mitchell and Caroline Chandler all added singles wins as West High clinched the match during singles play.

“Always with the City High match no matter what level we are at or they are at it’s always an emotional match and there is a lot of tension and nerves,” Villarini said. “I’m really proud of how we just came right out of the gate in singles and took care of business.”

The Koch sisters got a test early from the City High tandem of Kelsey Law and Carolyn Carter at number one doubles before pulling away for a 10-4 win.

Emma and Audrey Koch won the final five games to secure the win and improve to 8-0 on the season at number one doubles.

“We had to play against a team that was very different than any other team we had played against,” Emma Koch said. “That was definitely the biggest net presence that we have played against and that was a challenge but I think we got better because of it.”

Despite what it looks like on the court the two sisters have virtually no experience playing together.

Growing up the two-year age difference between Emma and Audrey mostly kept them from playing any doubles together with the exception of a tournament or two.

The on-court chemistry came quickly this season.

“You wouldn’t even know that they haven’t played much together because they really get a sense of how to play together,” Villarini said. “I think it’s just because they are sisters but they know how to move and how to read each other and so they definitely have great chemistry together on the court.’As the season has gone on the Koch doubles team has improved dramatically.  

Emma was a state doubles champion a year ago while playing with departed senior Abby Jans and could contend for another this season with her younger sister.

“I think we’ve improved a lot, we are getting more comfortable playing together because we really haven’t played doubles together even in practices,” Audrey Koch said. “I think as the season has gone on we have gotten a lot better.”