Janet Chappell has been coach of the Pine-Richland girls' tennis team since, well, before the school was even known as Pine-Richland.

Chappell began coaching when it was just Richland High School and the courts weren't where they are now. The Rams have had plenty of high-caliber teams in that time, but in terms of a group of the top three singles players perched atop the lineup, "This is the best group of singles players we have ever had, absolutely," Chappell said, referring to the collection of Olivia Heim, Taylor Perz and Daniela Osio.

Heim, a senior, placed fourth in the WPIAL Class AAA singles tournament last season and is mulling a collegiate career at a Division I school. Perz, a sophomore, was a WPIAL tournament qualifier and undefeated in section play last season.

"We're expecting another year like that," Chappell said.

Heim and Perz are playing first and second singles, respectively. They teamed up to qualify for the WPIAL doubles tournament last season. Osio, a junior, is the team's most improved player.

"[Heim and Perz] are very close in ability," Chappell said. "It's almost like having two No. 1s and a No. 2, the third girl is playing that well.

"They're all hard hitters and baseline players. I think Olivia is the one who's the most comfortable at the net, but that's typical of a No. 1 ... All three of them are all-court players.

"Olivia has the most experience, and she's a little better shot-maker than the other two. She has an absolutely great inside-out forehand, and that's kind of the difference in her match play and the other two. Taylor is a very solid all-court player who's starting to play national tournaments. They all hit the ball hard. What can I say? They're all good."

Heim is ranked No. 17 and Osio No. 78 among players in the USTA's Middle States Region, which encompasses Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and parts of West Virginia. Perz is No. 18 in the 16-and-under age group.

Chappell said that all three of Pine-Richland's singles players play each other and push each other to improve each other's game.

"They're friends," Chappell said. "They hang out. It's a nice situation.

"None of them have the egos that sometimes tennis players have."

The Rams, who opened their season with a victory against Butler Monday, were scheduled to play Seneca Valley yesterday and North Hills today.

At doubles, Pine-Richland boasts a player who is in her fourth season in starting at first doubles, also a rarity, if not a first, during the Chappell coaching tenure, in senior Kristen Kunkel.

Kunkel is currently playing her spot with partner Amy O'Donnell, a junior who had a legitimate opportunity to hold down one of the singles positions until she sustained shin splints this summer.

O'Donnell has started for three seasons, and Kunkel and Heim four each. A sophomore, Perz has started both seasons in which she was able.

"That's a lot of experience," Chappell said. "That doesn't happen too often [on a team at one time]."

Junior Claire Better and sophomore Katie Riley began the regular season as the Rams' second doubles team, though Better was out of action due to injury for a while.

Also in the running for lineup spots are seniors Christina Merritt, Caitlin Govan, Lindsay Dickey and Michelle Lattner and junior Hannah Zawadski.

The Rams advanced to the semifinals of the WPIAL team tournament last season. They lost to Section 2-AAA foe North Allegheny, which figures to be the biggest impediment in Pine-Richland's quest to win the section title this season.

"Our goal would be to finish at least second in the section, maybe first if we get lucky," Chappell said. "Are we going to be a top-eight team? I don't know that we'll make the semifinals. We might someday.

"It's hard to tell how kids are going to react. If our No. 3 singles player develops, we could make a run at the WPIAL title. If not, then, well, we'll [still] have good year."