LogoRally
Two tennis players mid-split-step during a doubles point, dust lifting, late-afternoon light cutting long shadows across the court
Jefferson High School · USTA Junior Development

Where the Serve Comes First

Train hard.
Play real.

Morning drills. Afternoon sets. Friday dual matches against real opponents. Rally is the tennis academy inside Jefferson High — built for kids who mean it.

Apply for a Court Slot
Meet the players
  • USTA Junior Development
  • Morning Drills 6:45 AM
  • Friday Dual Matches
  • Courts 1–6
  • Varsity Pipeline
  • Booster Club Equipment
  • Spring 2026 Tryouts Open
  • Jefferson High Athletics
  • USTA Junior Development
  • Morning Drills 6:45 AM
  • Friday Dual Matches
  • Courts 1–6
  • Varsity Pipeline
  • Booster Club Equipment
  • Spring 2026 Tryouts Open
  • Jefferson High Athletics
Head coach DeShawn Rutherford demonstrating serve technique to a group of students on Court 3 during morning practice

Season Record

18–7

Dual Matches · Fall 2025

Coach DeShawn Rutherford

Head Coach · 9 seasons at Jefferson

Program Credentials

Serious training.
School-day hours.

Rally runs inside Jefferson's athletics program — USTA-sanctioned, fully coached, with equipment provided. No separate club fees. No weekend-only commitment. Just real tennis, five days a week.

USTA-ranked players this season

14

Dual-match win rate

71%

Average hrs training per week

8

Players advancing to varsity as freshmen

6

"Our kids compete in USTA sectionals. By sophomore year, most of them have a ranking. That's not an accident — that's what five days a week looks like."

— Coach DeShawn Rutherford

Training Week

Five days.
Zero excuses.

Built around the Jefferson bell schedule. Early mornings and after-school blocks — no class missed, no carpool nightmare.

Mon / Wed6:45 – 8:00 AM

Morning Drills

Footwork ladders, groundstroke consistency, 200-ball feeds per player

Courts 1–3
Tuesday3:30 – 5:30 PM

Match Play

Competitive sets, live scoring, coach review

Courts 1–6
Thursday6:45 – 8:00 AM

Serve & Return

Dedicated serving clinic + return-of-serve patterns

Courts 4–6
Thursday3:30 – 5:00 PM

Doubles Tactics

Net formations, poach timing, communication drills

Courts 1–4
Friday3:30 – 6:00 PM

Dual Match

Home or away vs. district opponents · bleachers open

All Courts

Equipment provided by the Rally Booster Club

Rackets, ball hoppers, and court equipment available for all enrolled players. Volunteers restring rackets every Tuesday.

Parent & Player Voices

The people behind
every match point

"Marcus went from hitting against a backyard fence to USTA-ranked #4 in our district — in one school year. Rally gave him structure he couldn't get anywhere else."

USTA District Ranking #4 · Varsity Singles

Linda Chen, parent of Marcus Chen, smiling at a Friday dual match

Linda Chen

Tennis Parent

"Priya was nervous about tryouts. Now she wakes herself up for 6:45 AM drills without an alarm. The coaches here actually know her game. That matters."

Junior Varsity Doubles · Booster Club Restringing Crew

Anita Nair standing courtside at Jefferson High School during a match

Anita Nair

Booster Club Volunteer

"I chose Jefferson specifically for Rally. My friends at other schools pay $400 a month for club fees. Here it's part of my day. The Friday matches are electric."

Varsity Singles · Inside-Out Forehand Specialist

Darius Webb holding his racket after winning a dual match set

Darius Webb

Player, 11th Grade

Spring 2026 Season

Mark your calendar.
Show up ready.

Mar 3, 2026

Spring Tryouts Open

Courts 1–6 · 3:30 PM

Mar 10, 2026

Application Deadline

Submit via athletics portal

Mar 16, 2026

Spring Season Begins

First morning drills

Mar 20, 2026

Home Dual Match vs. Westside

Courts 1–6 · 3:30 PM · All welcome

Apr 4, 2026

Away vs. Lincoln High

Lincoln Athletic Complex

Apr 18, 2026

District Qualifier

USTA Sanctioned · Singles + Doubles

May 2, 2026

Senior Day / Home Final

Bleachers open · Family welcome

May 15, 2026

USTA Sectionals

Qualifying players · Location TBD

Limited Court Slots · Spring 2026

Ready to earn your spot?

Applications close March 10. Tryouts run March 3–7. Court assignments posted March 13.

Apply for a Court Slot

Opens Jefferson High School Athletics Registration Portal