PORT ORANGE — Some teams cling to mottos or set a new theme each season. The Spruce Creek Hawks don’t.

“I think every year is just win,” coach Jeremy Davies said.

They did a lot of that in 2023.

They expect to do a lot more in 2024.

In the girls lineup, all five starters returned after going 19-2 and charging to the 4A state semifinals. There, they lost to Venice 4-3.

The boys graduated two starters last year, but No. 1 singles player Zane Ensminger is back and still atop the lineup. They also went to the state semifinals where Gulf Coast knocked them out 4-2, ending their 17-5 campaign.

Those were Spruce Creek’s first final-four appearances in program history. The boys and girls won district and regional championships, too.

“I think we’re pretty focused on getting to states and getting farther than last year,” senior Melissa Perman said. “We had really good results last year. It was really close, and I think that, with the experience of last year, hopefully that will be enough to get us past.”

Here is a look at each squad:

NASCAR: Daytona 500 will remain on Presidents Day weekend in 2025

Spruce Creek girls lineup involves same players

In some ways, this spring feels like a continuation.

All five players are the same. The doubles pairings are the same. The only changes came to the order, with sophomore Giselle Adekunle moving to No. 1 singles and the top doubles spot with fellow sophomore Irina Tabacila.

The rest:

• No. 2 singles: junior Kayla Wheeler

• No. 3 singles: Irina Tabacila

• No. 4 singles: Melissa Perman

• No. 5 singles: junior Campbell Bundza

And the results have been the same. The Hawks carry a 6-1 record.

“We’re stronger as a team because we’ve had that extra year and half to prepare and get better together,” Wheeler said.

Last season, youth dominated the lineup. Perman served as the elder stateswoman as just a junior. She’s the only senior this year.

Perman, Adekunle and Tabacila didn’t lose a singles match in the regular season and combined to go 45-1 last year. So far, they’re 18-3 this month.

Wheeler put up a 16-5 record in No. 1 singles and won the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns Girls Tennis Player of the Year award. She holds a 7-0 slate in No. 2 singles this season.

“Just top to bottom, I think we can hang with anyone in the state,” Davies said. “Palmetto, Lake Nona, you name it. I think we have a shot.”

Boys lineup undergoes a few changes behind Zane Ensminger

For the first time in his high school life, Zane is the lone Ensminger on the roster.

His older brother, Hayden, spent the last two seasons as his No. 1 doubles partner and the Hawks’ No. 2 singles starter. But he, along with Carter Chavez (No. 3 singles, No. 2 doubles), graduated last spring from the deepest team Davies has coached.

“It’s definitely different,” said Ensminger, the 2023 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns Boys Tennis Player of the Year with a 26-1 count.

“It was kind of a Cinderella year for the boys,” Davies said. “But I’ve always taken pride that the boys will play tough and play whoever. The other emphasis is, I don’t care how we do it. We just have to find a way to get four wins, boys or girls.”

JAGUARS: Doug Pederson talks at NFL Combine, says undecided on who will call plays this year

Senior Demario Dawkins, who slotted into the No. 4 singles last year, made the jump to No. 2. He also teams with Ensminger in doubles.

It’s worked so far. Ensminger put up a 6-1 record in his first seven No. 1 singles matches. Dawkins claimed five in a row in No. 2 singles, and they’re an undefeated 6-0 in doubles.

Juniors Jenson Nord and Octavio Stout hold the No. 3 and 4 singles positions and form the No. 2 doubles team. Senior Joseph Decilla rounds out the top five.

As a group, Spruce Creek is 6-1.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: High school tennis: Spruce Creek hopes to pass state semis in 2024