"We have just had a really good year, and I'm excited because right now at this point in time we're playing really good tennis, and hopefully we'll have an opportunity to advance in both singles and doubles."
Casey has an experienced team, with five of the six players who were on last year's regional roster slated to play in this week's tournament at Berea. Williams said many of those players started with the program at a young age.
"One thing I've liked about this team is that we've worked hard over the years to build a solid team," Williams said.
Casey's top doubles team features two seniors, Ben Allen and Charlie Fox, who have played together for several years. Its top singles player, junior Justin Martin, has improved dramatically since last season.
Williams said Martin's improvement can be tied to the fact that he has been taking lessons from a Lindsey Wilson College player.
"Justin spent a lot of time on the courts this summer, and he also spent some time in the weight room," Williams said. "(He) has been a tremendous asset for us."
Williams said Allen and Fox are also an asset because of their experience.
"Once you're a senior, you should have some leadership qualities," he said.
Martin had the longest run in last year's regional tourney
Martin had the longest run of any of Casey's entries in last year's regional tournament, winning two matches before losing to Danville's Jeff Ricker in the quarterfinals.
Williams said he expects Garrard County's Phillip Arndt to be No. 1 when regional seeds are determined tonight, but he said Martin is virtually even with Ricker and Garrard's Will Stevens in a group of the next-best players.
"If he plays really well, he has a chance to be in the mix," Williams said of Martin.
Fox and Allen, who could also be seeded, lost their second match in last year's regional.
"They've been inconsistent at times, but they usually start playing well toward the end of the year," Williams said.
The team's other senior, Gavin Turpin, played singles last year but will team with freshman Chad Jeffries in the doubles draw this week. The second singles player will be Waldy Freitas, an exchange student from Brazil who is staying with Martin's family.
"He has been a pleasant surprise," Williams said.
Williams said Casey's best regular-season wins have included victories over Somerset, Russell County, Garrard County and Pulaski County.
Region appears to be more balanced than usual
He said it won't be easy for Casey to advance in the regional against teams like Garrard, Somerset and Russell, but he said the region appears more balanced than usual this year.
"Our expectations are high, but you just never know," Williams said. "Right now we've been consistent."
Casey's success is even more impressive because the team lacks a good place to practice and play. The school's boys and girls teams share two courts at Gate Way Park, though Williams and others have tried for the past few years to convince the school system to build courts on campus.
"I just couldn't be any more pleased, especially with some of the obstacles we've had to deal with," he said.
And Williams said a successful team might help those courts get built faster.
"It can't hurt," he said.
