DANVILLE, Ky. - She knew with the level of competition not to have any lofty expectations at the ITA Indoor Championships.

"We have had a really good season but I was just hopeful we would play well," said Centre College senior Hannah Doherty.

Instead, she combined with partner Katharine Sherman to beat the Division III's No. 5-ranked doubles team from Carnegie Mellon.

"We played a great match but we had no idea how high they were ranked. All the teams at the tournament were ranked in the top ten. They were all good but I didn't know they were no. 5 until after the match," Doherty said. "Winning that match gave us a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.

"We've lost to some really good teams and beating a team like that helped our confidence. That showed we can do more than just compete with top teams. We can beat them."

Doherty, who is from Brookhaven, Ga., was an all-conference selection as a junior and named to  the all-conference freshman team her first year with the Colonels. She first heard about Centre College from her cousins, Josh and Elizabeth Joiner of Danville.

"I loved the team and coaches when I came to visit. I loved the dynamic of being able to play tennis competitively and also have a really good academic career," Doherty said.

Josh Joiner played tennis at Centre and Elizabeth is on the team this year. She's also Doherty's roommate this year.

"Elizabeth and I would play tennis together on family vacations. She wasn't too serious about tennis but it's fun having her on the team. We have fun together," Doherty said.

Both Doherty's parents played golf and tennis so both she and her older sister, Amanda, also played both sports.

"I didn't really have the patience for golf, so I stuck with tennis. My sister chose golf and got really good," Doherty said.

"She just really loved tennis," Amanda Doherty said. "Just something drew her to tennis."

How good is Amanda Doherty at golf? She is now on the LPGA Tour after earning her tour card on the Epson Tour in 2021 when she had eight top-10 finishes and finished seventh on the money list. She had made two LPGA starts this season and tied for 57th at the Gainbridge LPA at Boca Rio in January.

"She played at Florida State and it is inspiring to watch what she has done. It shows me if you put your mind to something you can do it," the Centre College senior said. "I don't necessarily have the same intensity level for my sport as she does but we both do love to play. Every time she  moves up in competition, she just fights harder. I hope I get to see her play this summer."

Amanda Doherty says her younger sister is "shockingly athletic" even if she tries to downplay her athleticism.

"She can pick up a golf club and be okay if she has not touched a club in eight years. I have never seen anyone throw a tighter spiral with a football. She is just an athlete. She would have been good at whatever sport she picked," Amanda Doherty said. "We both played tennis growing up. I suck at tennis. If we play now, she just hits it right at me and thinks it is hilarious."

The LPGA player got to watch her sister play once earlier this season and wishes she could do it more.

"I also love having her come watch me because she is so much fun. But she hates golf. After about three holes, she is ready to be gone but she is a trooper and will stay the whole round," Amanda Doherty said. "But I do know that she works way harder at studying than I do at golf. She plays tennis but she still studies her butt off."

That's because Hannah Doherty is making plans to attend law school next year. She's "leaning" to Wake Forest because of the scholarship offer she already has.

"No one in my family is a lawyer so it is kind of an interesting path for me. I had considered it in high school but also thought I might go the economic and business route at Centre," she said.

Her college sorority works with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) that has volunteers help children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

"I hope to be a family lawyer and child advocacy attorney," she said. "I did an internship last summer at a federal defender program with an attorney that specializes in death cases. It was a unique experience."

Now she just wants to enjoy the rest of her final collegiate tennis season.

"One thing I love about our team is everyone loves tennis," she said. "Even in the offseason we all want to hit (tennis balls). My overall career here has been better than I ever hoped for. I have had so many fun experiences. We have not had the success in conference yet that we wanted and can still have, but it has just been an amazing four years here for me."