JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch girls tennis coach Nance Conlon will know her opponent well when the Knights close the regular season Monday.

She should.

Her daughter is the opposing coach.

The unbeaten Knights travel to Highlands (3-7, 2-3) for the regular season finale. Katie Conlon is in her first season as Highlands' head coach.

“We talk every day,” Nance Conlon said of her daughter. “This is a unique way to close the season. It should be fun.”

It won't be easy for Highlands.

“It could be a long day for us,” Katie Conlon admitted. “Knoch is awfully good.”

Katie, 26, was a pretty good player in her own right. A 2012 Knoch graduate, she was the No. 1 singles player for the Knights and was a section doubles champion in high school.

Her mother was not coaching at Knoch during her daughter's years there.

Katie went on to Ohio University, played club tennis there, and is working on her second masters degree. Her first was in social justice, the second in political science.

“She decided to come home once the (COVID-19) pandemic broke out and work on her classes online,” her mother said.

While at Ohio University, Katie served as assistant girls tennis coach at nearby Athens High School for two years.

She now lives in Verona and works as a nanny.

Nance Conlon is friends with Marlea Bowser, the former Highlands coach.

“Marlea spends a lot of time in Florida and decided to stay down there this year, with the virus going on,” Nance Conlon said. “She asked me if I knew of anyone who might be able to step in as coach.

“I thought of Katie. She had gotten some high school coaching experience in Ohio and figured she might be interested.”

Katie interviewed for the position and was hired. She has no assistant coach nor a junior varsity team.

Highlands has 11 players on its roster.

“Nobody tries to make a living out of coaching high school tennis,” Katie said. “I saw an opportunity there and it's been fun. I'd love to come back next year, if they'll have me.

“We have five players coming back next year and these girls have made a lot of progress.”

Katie Conlon does embark some wisdom that her mother told her quite some time ago.

“You're not playing the girl across the net, you're playing the ball,” she said. “Work on your own game. I always thought that was sound advice.”

While Knoch figures to win the match Monday, Nance Conlon plans to savor the moment.

“It will be a special day for both of us,” she said. “A nice memory.”