How First Serve Muncie Turned a Community Need Into a Place to Play

For Jini Morgan, the building that would become First Serve Muncie was never just another property.

It was where she learned to play tennis as a young adult, where her children learned the game and where she developed as a coach. So when the former YMCA facility faced an uncertain future, she saw both a personal connection and a community need.

“I couldn’t just sit there and let it go.”

That decision became the starting point for First Serve Muncie, an indoor tennis and pickleball facility in Muncie, Indiana.

Building on Years of Experience

Jini brought more than a love of tennis to the project. A lifelong Muncie resident, she holds a master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration. She had also helped build two sports facilities and managed a 123,000-square-foot facility.

Her experience gave her a strong foundation, but turning an existing building into a new business still required planning, financing and support.

Jini and her team renovated the former YMCA facility, including converting basketball courts back into tennis courts and transforming an old fitness area into space for pickleball. Her goal was to create more than a collection of courts. She wanted people to feel welcome whether they were experienced players or picking up a racquet for the first time.

Today, the facility offers indoor tennis and pickleball for players of different ages and experience levels. Its website describes eight indoor tennis courts, four dedicated pickleball courts, lessons, leagues, tournaments and membership options for individuals, families and students.

Finding the Right Support

Jini’s relationship with Northwest began through personal banking, years before First Serve Muncie took shape. When she was ready to explore the business idea, that existing relationship gave her a place to begin the financial conversation.

Northwest bankers worked with Jini as she developed the financial side of the project and moved through the Small Business Administration loan process. For Jini, the time spent understanding her plans and the purpose behind them made the experience feel like a relationship rather than simply a transaction.

The SBA loan closed on January 23, 2026. Jini described the milestone as both a relief and the moment when the business began to feel even more real.

Financing was one piece of a larger network of support. Jini also drew on her industry experience, relationships and outside resources as she worked to bring the facility back to life.

Her experience offers a useful reminder for other entrepreneurs: A strong idea may start with one person, but bringing it to life often requires expertise and support from several places.

Creating a Place for Muncie to Connect

First Serve Muncie has welcomed young children, older adults, college students, church groups and homeschool families. Jini has also become involved in efforts to expand access to tennis and pickleball for underserved youth in Muncie.

The facility’s work has received national recognition. In 2026, the U.S. Tennis Association named First Serve Muncie Racquet Club an Outstanding Facility Award winner in the small public tennis center category. The awards recognize excellence in tennis facility construction and renovation.

Jini’s connection to local tennis extends back more than 25 years. Along with learning to play and coach at the facility she now leads, she has coached high school and collegiate tennis and served in sports administration.

After spending so much time focused on the next task, decision or challenge, seeing people use the facility has given Jini an opportunity to step back and appreciate what she and her team have created.

A Lesson for Other Entrepreneurs

When Jini talks with other women considering starting a business, one lesson stands out:

“Surround yourself with people who can help.”

That means seeking out expertise, asking questions and recognizing that starting a business doesn’t have to be a solo effort. It may also mean moving forward before every part of the plan is figured out.

For Jini, that willingness to take a chance, paired with experience and the right relationships, helped turn a longtime connection to tennis into a place where people across Muncie can learn, play and connect.