Rheanna Morehart knows a thing or two about expectations.

Her best friend, Sarah Kolodzik, is a three-time state qualifier in golf and Rheanna’s mom owns South Regency Tennis and Fitness Center. So it comes as no surprise that Morehart, a Miami Valley School junior, was determined to qualify for the state tennis tournament this season.

“I have the best coaches and I’ve worked so hard, it’s really exciting that it’s paying off,” Morehart said. “And while Sarah doesn’t play tennis, she understands pressure. It’s nice to have someone who I can relate to.”

Morehart, 16, qualified to state for the first time this season with a fourth-place finish at the Division II district tournament. She will face top-seeded Ariana Iranpour in the first round as the Ohio High School Athletic Association girls state tournament starts Friday at Ohio State University.

“It’s really exciting because our athletic director puts pictures up and makes announcements about athletes who go to state,” Morehart said.

But if Morehart is trying to keep up with her best friend, she has work to do. Kolodzik, a Miami Valley junior, improved on her 2011 fourth-place state finish to claim the 2012 individual runner-up medal on Saturday.

“I wish I could have been there,” Morehart said.

She was, however, texting Kolodzik in between her district tennis matches to get updates. That’s not uncommon as their rigorous athletic schedules don’t allow for much free time.

“That’s especially true in the summer when most people hang out,” Morehart said. “I travel a lot to Cincinnati to play and she goes out of state for tournaments. It’s tough to find time.”

Her golfing best friend will, however, shift gears this week and be a cheerleader.

“She doesn’t really understand the scoring,” Morehart said, smiling, “But it will be great having her there.”

Redemption: After a two-year state hiatus, Tippecanoe senior Sierra Nellessen could finally breathe a sigh of relief as she is back in Columbus. Making it back to state was the goal all season for the Red Devils singles player who qualified to state as a freshman.

“Everything else is icing on the cake,” Nellessen said.

Division I: Springboro senior Julie Brockman is the lone D-I player from the Miami Valley to qualify to the state tournament. Brockman, however, is no state rookie. She and teammate Aundrea Busse placed fourth in D-I doubles last year. Brockman will face four-time state qualifier Lauren Golick in the first round Friday.