The good news for the Helias girls tennis team is the squad still has an abundance of players, with the roster boasting more than 30 players for the second straight year.
The bad news? The ratio of players to coaches got a bit bigger for the Lady Crusaders this season.
Head coach Margaret Shimkus said she's happy to be dealing with a huge number of players for the second straight year.
"We didn't chase anybody off," she said with a smile. "It's real exciting for 'Sader Tennis."
Assistant coach Rick Baer is back again to help, but with Sister Julie Brandt now an assistant superintendent at the school, she had to let go of her assistant coach's duties.
"It takes some creative thinking, outside the box, to be able to keep all these players and make sure they all feel a part of the team," Shimkus said.
And many of the Lady Crusaders, who open the season today and Saturday at the Southwest Missouri Invitational, have vastly different expectations that make coaching them an interesting challenge.
"I have to remember what the focus is," Shimkus said. "I did a thing with the girls where I have them all write down goals for the season, whether it be team or individual, and everybody has a different philosophy. I try to remain open to that.
"For some, it's camaraderie. For some, to get a little better at tennis. For others, to improve (whatever position) they played last year. Then on the other end, you have ones where, "My goal is to get to state,' whether it be as a team or an individual."
That last one is a big goal, and there are a number of Lady Crusaders who made it to individual state last year. How many? Well, that's where it gets a little tricky, but the end result is three.
It starts at the top, as No. 1 singles player Ashley Dowden enters her senior season having qualified for state three times already.
The Lady Crusaders had another player qualify for state in singles that should be returning, but will not.
"Mary Conley was my No. 2 last year and she finished eighth in state, but she is studying abroad this whole year, so we won't have her," Shimkus said.
Abby Dowden, a sophomore, returns after qualifying in doubles with the now-graduated Lauren Highfill.
So how does the number get back to three? Well, junior Megan Oliver transferred in to Helias after qualifying for state last year while playing for Logan-Rogersville.
So Helias basically has half a varsity squad back, with plenty of other options available on its huge roster.
"That's the reason why we keep so many people - so they can keep moving up and filling in spots," Shimkus said. "I also have some good freshmen coming in, so I think we're solid again."
The squad got to watch the example of those players last year and see what it takes to make it to state.
"They see that the goal is attainable, that if they do the right work, they can do it," Shimkus said.
But much of that work has to be the result of self-motivation.
"Obviously I can't do enough for them in practice for all of them with the time that I'm allotted, so it takes their commitment," Shimkus said. "I feel my job is to be basically a motivator and a team manager and keep them on task to reach those goals."
While Ashley Dowden is set at No. 1, the rest of the singles order is in flux with seven players up for five varsity spots.
Abby Dowden and Oliver are joined by seniors Emmi Theroff and Grace Verslues, sophomore Anna Theroff and freshman Catherine Conley and sophomore Liz Conley.
Doubles is also a question mark, with just one of the three teams being set so far.
"Emmi and Grace are going to stay together at No. 3," Shimkus said. "We're still working on the top end, figuring out the chemistry. Abby and Ashley are back, but with the others being new, we've got to figure out chemistry.
"That may take a couple of matches to figure out. It may take that pressure of being in a match to see the response and how they can communicate when they're under a little stress."