BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University women's tennis team has found a winning combination at the top of its doubles lineup. Sisters, Hannah Lightner and Julia Lightner, the Yellow Jackets' No. 1 women's doubles team, are off to an impressive 7-0 start this season. 

Playing alongside a sibling can come with its own challenges, but for Hannah and Julia, their relationship has helped create strong chemistry on the court. Their ability to communicate, trust each other, and stay composed during matches has been a major part of their undefeated start. 

"We know each other better than anyone," Hannah said. "We can tell when the other person needs encouragement or when we just need to focus and move on to the next point. Being sisters definitely helps us stay connected during a match." 

Julia said their familiarity with each other has made it easier to develop their doubles game. 

"We have played together for so long that sometimes we know what the other person is going to do before they even say anything," Julia said. "We trust each other, and that makes a huge difference when we are in a close match." 

The Lightners' 7-0 record reflects the consistency they have brought to the court. Whether facing a competitive opponent or trying to close out a tight match, the sisters have continued to rely on one another and maintain their focus. 

Their success has also been noticed by their teammates."Hannah and Julia have such good chemistry. They compete hard, but they also have fun together. You can see how much confidence they have in each other when they play." 

For the Lightners, however, the undefeated record is less about individual accomplishments and more about continuing to improve together.

"We're proud of being 7-0, but we don't want to get comfortable," Julia said. "Every match gives us something we can work on, and we want to keep getting better as the season goes on." 

As the season continues, Hannah and Julia will look to keep their perfect record alive while representing Howard Payne at the top of the women's doubles lineup. With their combination of skill, communication, and sibling chemistry, the Lightners have quickly become a doubles team to watch. 

For these sisters, every match is another opportunity to compete together, and so far, they haven't lost a step.