Since they began playing tennis five years ago, Jill and Jessi Williams have been hearing the jokes comparing them to that other, more-famous duo of tennis sisters, Venus and Serina Williams.
"Yes, we hear it a lot," said Jessi about the comparison to Venus and Serina. Does it get old? "No," answered Jill with a smile. (Photo: left, Jill; right, Jessi)
But unlike the celebrity sisters, these E&H siblings are identical twins, and, because they are on the same team, they don't find themselves competing against one another. That is good news for the E&H women's tennis team, which has benefited significantly by having both first-year students on its roster.
The two young women from Bristol, Va., came to Emory & Henry because the close-knit pair wanted to pursue their education in a friendly atmosphere with a solid academic reputation. Jessi, a biology major, and Jill, a chemistry major, say they are as serious about their education as they are about their sport.
On Wednesday, when the Wasps took on Roanoke College, the sisters, playing No. 2 doubles, put on no-nonsense game faces that contrasted significantly with their bright, large eyes and captivating smiles. The sisters walked away the easy winners of the match and went on to win at No. 2 (Jill) and No. 3 (Jessi) singles.
Jill and Jessi said they very much enjoy being on the E&H tennis team. Apart from the thrill of the competition, they are close to their teammates. "We're like a family here," said Jill.
But even their teammates have trouble telling them apart sometimes. The clue is often found in their tennis shoes. Jill wears yellow; Jessi wears white. (Or is it the other way around?)
The two have been playing together since they were freshmen at John Battle High School in Bristol, Va. They played doubles together in high school, and last year, they helped their team to a state championship title.
Head Coach Jim Barker is very pleased with the sisters, who bring a great deal of positive energy to their play and to the team's spirit. "They are smart, serious athletes who add to our cohesiveness and competitiveness."
And the Williams sisters provide for a great deal of conversation for E&H tennis fans as they watch "the twins" play winning tennis -- just like the more widely known tennis sisters of the same name.