Despite a new environment, a Waynesburg doubles duo continues to thrive together on the tennis court.

Sophomore Julia Luzar and freshman Julia Umshares graduated from Trinity High School, located just 30 minutes away from Waynesburg, in Washington. Luzar and Umshares graduated in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The pair were a set tennis duo for Trinity, creating a dynamic of both friendship and teamwork.

“(Julia and I) started playing together my junior year and her sophomore year of high school,” Luzar said. “We work the best as a pair when we communicate and play together as friends instead of just as teammates.”

The transition for the pair from Trinity to Waynesburg was easy due to the previous connections on the court. 

“The transition was easier than I anticipated,” Luzar said. “Since we both knew each other from the past, we easily connected and had great communication right off the bat both on and off the court.”

L. Randy Pettit, Waynesburg’s head coach, continues to implement them as a duo based on the different assets they bring.

“They really balance each other out really well,” Pettit said. “Julia Luzar typically plays a more powerful style and Julia Umshares is very technical. It’s nice having that familiarity from high school and seeing it translate to college.”

Luzar and Umshares lost their doubles set 0-6 in the last match against Penn State Altoona. 

Waynesburg’s next match is this Thursday, Sept. 12. It is on home courts for the Yellow Jackets versus Franciscan.