Family Tennis Tradition Keeps Sister Team On Its Game

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Sisters Genoa and Elora Morton at the OIA championship
tournament. Photo courtesy of the Morton family.

Performing at a high level on the tennis court has never been an issue for Genoa and Elora Morton. If anything, their greater challenge was making it to the court in the first place.

“They grumble to me about having to go to the (Kaneohe District) park sometimes, but once they get there, they like it,” said their father, Dana Morton. “On Sundays, we (the family) all go to the park. It’s been a tradition and a good thing for our family.”

“It’s forced on us - we don’t always want to play,” Genoa added half-seriously within earshot of her dad. “But it’s been worth it. Our family get-togethers have been good for us.”

For the Morton ohana, tennis time is indeed family time, and they all agree that their Sunday outings have brought them closer together. There has been much on-the-court success to celebrate this year as well.

Last month, Genoa and Elora captured the Oahu Interscholastic Association doubles championship, and the pair were quarter-finalists at the Carlsmith State Tennis Championships a week later. They won two matches at the state tournament before being eliminated by eventual state doubles champions Ashley Ohira and Nicole Nakaoka of Punahou.

It was perhaps a fitting end to their partnership, at least at the high school level. Genoa graduated from Castle over the weekend, leaving Elora, who is two years her junior, behind. That the 2007 spring season at Castle would be their last chance to play prep doubles together became a driving force for the pair over the last year.

“This year, we really wanted to win the OIA,” Genoa said. “We worked harder and practiced more and focused on the things we needed to work on, like serving, volleys and returns - those were the main three (areas).”

While the pair are consistently mistaken for each other in the hallways of Castle due to their similar appearance, they aren’t so similar personality-wise, according to their father.

“They’re both bossy, but Genoa is more so,“he said.“She has a take-charge personality, while Elora is more casual. Genoa was sort of the rock in their play this year. She’s fiery.”

For all their assertiveness on the court, the pair are more than compatible.“Except when she borrows my clothes without asking or I borrow hers,” Elora joked.

On the court, the sisters share a focused, yet fun-loving approach to the game.

“I love my sister, and I’ll miss playing with her next year,” said Elora, who will likely play singles at Castle next spring. “We always try to have fun when we play. She likes to boss me around and tell me what to do. She’s more aggressive. I’m more nervous in the beginning until I get used to it.”

Added Genoa, “We laugh a lot on the court, and we always try to make friends after. We’re both competitive, and we hate to lose, but we’re not that serious. We both hate practice, but we like playing in tournaments.”

Their ability to communicate also helps their cohesiveness.

“We try not to get too down (during a match),” Genoa said.“I’ll try to pick her up when she’s down, and vice versa.”

While both girls had the ability to excel at singles, they were immediately paired together upon Elora’s arrival at Castle, which came in Genoa’s junior year.

“(It was decided) we’d make it further playing together than if we played singles or doubles with other partners,” Elora said. “We know each other’s games. We practice together.”

Although their time together at Castle has passed, the pair could end up playing together again in the future in outside leagues, and there are always Sunday outings at Kaneohe District Park. Both Dana Morton and his wife Yolanda play tennis in addition to the many members of the extended family that are active in the sport.

“Tennis has been a good thing for our family, physically and socially,” Dana said. “My hope is that they’ll continue playing in adult leagues and that tennis will be a lifelong thing for them, as it is for us.”