Second Serve

“Second Serve” is more than just our team name it’s a story, a mindset, and a second chance at life.

In tennis, a second serve carries pressure. You don’t get another opportunity if you miss it, you lose the point. It requires focus, resilience, and courage. But it’s also a chance to reset, to adjust, and to fight for the point.

That’s exactly what this journey represents for me.

In July 2023, I was diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinoma (stage 2), a form of head and neck cancer. Life changed quickly. I underwent surgery and continue to move forward with strength, including radiation as part of my treatment plan. That diagnosis forced me into a “second serve” in life a moment where I had to dig deeper, refocus, and keep going despite the pressure.

And somewhere in the middle of that journey… I found tennis.

Tennis found me at a time I didn’t even realize I needed it. What started as something simple—me and my middle sister (Tomia Ruffin) buying $25 rackets from Walmart and hitting balls at night at Henry Brigham Park, became something much bigger. We were out there in the dark, no lights, just playing for fun, not realizing it would turn into a passion.

We kept showing up. We went to different parks, including Diamond Lakes, just enjoying the game. Then one day, a coach noticed us. In a joking but honest way, he told us if we really wanted to improve, we should consider lessons.

That moment changed everything.

I started taking private lessons with Coach Jordan at Newman Tennis Center, then joined clinics, and slowly became part of a larger tennis community. At first, I felt like I was too late—that tennis was something people start as kids. But what I found was the opposite. I met people from all walks of life, many older than me, all starting for their own reasons.

We became more than just players, we became a family.

And that’s what Second Serve is about.

It’s about resilience.

It’s about community.

It’s about finding purpose after hardship.

It’s about second chances, on the court and in life.

Through this fundraiser with the Head & Neck Cancer Alliance, we are not only raising awareness, we are honoring every person who has had to fight through their own “second serve.”

If you’re reading this, thank you. Whether you donate, join our team, or simply share our story, you are part of this movement.

Because every second serve deserves a chance to win the point.