Sept 5, 2018

Cowgirls traveled to Ragsdale in non conference tennis action

Having played the Lady Tigers once already (see season opener write-up) this season, the Cowgirls were quite confident in their ability to impress their will against their previous conference foes.

Wanting to give opportunity to both the Cowgirls and the Lady Tigers, I elected to play an entirely new line-up in today’s match.

Christina Alentine and Annie Bodin, both new to the line-up since we played Ragsdale in the opening week, Heaven new as well at #6.  Meghan Whalen, Laney Van Dorp, and Lauren Cook all return, but only Meghan still in her same talent spot. What of dimples Gretchen Cross?  She opted to sit during singles to allow others to play but we will speak of her a bit more in doubles action.

Lauren exited the court from a pro-8 set in near record time.  By my watch, less than 25 minutes. Three up, three down if this were baseball, but since this was tennis, 4 serves held by Lauren, 4 serves broken by Lauren.  8-0 Victory.

Annie Bodin began on par with her opponent but quickly got her feet beneath her and cruised to a 8-2 victory marked with many approaches to the net, and a fair amount of volleying to put her opponent away for the match.

Laney Van Dorp exited shortly after.  Tight through the first 5 exchanges, I was informed by Laney during a changeover that she was trying something different.  Commending her shot prowess, but tempered by the facts that it wasn’t working the way she really wanted, Laney slowed her roll, stood fast in her shot selection, and didn’t drop another game in her victory 8-3 over her lady tiger opponent.

Heaven had one of the more difficult matches of the night.  Beginning well enough, as the match progressed, Heaven found herself reverting in playing style to when she was a freshman...short truncated shots, slappy serves, and the footwork of tired children playing in two foot of molasses.  When this was brought to her attention, the light bulb went off in Heaven’s head. Playing ore purposeful tennis, extending the arm, slowing the swing, bringing it back in the middle to extend the point and allow the opponent to find new ways to win the point other than waiting for a Cowgirl error, Heaven held serve.  Now 8-8, we go to tiebreak.

1-0

2-0

2-1

3-1

3-2

3-3

It was warm out today.  Heaven’s opponent was quickly fading in the heat.  Time was given, rest required, but after a time she didn’t want to give up.  Unable to keep pace with Heaven’s newfound focus on getting the ball back, the Tiger dropped the next 4 points and in doing so, Heaven earned her second varsity win of the season and secured her star come the sports awards at the end of the season.

During this mini epic match of Heaven’s, Meghan Whalen exited the court.  Not serving particularly well nor playing too well in the opening games, Meghan informed me later she was trying to impress her will upon her opponent a bit too much.  Slowing her game and honing her focus, Meghan held and broke. the two sides traded serves like equal currency over the next several games. Having beaten this foe 10-6 in the first match of the season, Meghan was quite understandably frustrated.  But alas, today went to the opponent on court one. Meghan shaking it off, understanding what happened, and vowing for revenge on dubs court 1 with Gretchen Cross. See, I told you dimples Gretchen Cross would appear again later.

But Keith, that was only 5 accounts of the singles match.

Right you are.

Christina Alentino began battle against a burgeoning player on the Lady Tiger’s team.  Having worked hard in the off season, this Tiger earned multiple spots to land at #2. Gretchen Cross had taken #2 out early with a score reflecting only two service breaks.  Christina had a small test on her hands. Early jitters were evident as play began slowly. With points really not exceeding 3-5 strokes each, and Christina unable to hold her first two serves and only earning one break back for her payment, she found herself down 1-3.  Then the serve warmed up. Two fast points and the Tiger had little time to get the ball into play - rushed on receiving serve, the Tiger hit two errant balls off court. A 1st serve miss, but the second good, Christina hit a wild one. 30-15. One more solid first serve.  40-15. A miss, but second good, a short rally, Christina holds serve.

2-3

The good news, Christina wins this match.

The better news, Christina holds her serve convincily for the remainder of the match and picks up 3 more service breaks against her Tiger opponent in this victory.  Her play began to elevate with her shots staying in a bit more, angles were developing, a few top spins into the corners, the backhand clearly a shining star of the match.  We are not there yet, but Christina’s game is gaining confidence...which is an excellent thing to watch.

5-1 after singles - Cowgirls take the match in Singles.

While dubs were beginning, Abigail Lowe (Exhibition singles), Abby again with Kirsten Blunder, Morgan McGuire and Holly Galvin - all were able to take in the sights as well as play a bit of exhibition matches this evening.  I love when all of the ladies get to play something throughout the night’s matches.

Knowing we would roll/nearly roll in Singles, I played deep in dubs.

Whalen and Gretchen Cross took to #1 dubs court.  

Alethea Yu/Johaina Apolinario to #2 dubs court.

Bea Calwitan/Avery McCaskill to #3 dubs court.

Alethea and Johaina love playing together and tonight was no exception.  Taking only 2 games to secure their footing, the Cowgirls held their serves and broke their opponents holding the Tigers to only one game earned on the night. 8-1

Whalen/Cross began once more by gifting their opponents with the first 3 games of the match.  Knowing Coach simple loves a come from behind story - don’t we all? - and two packs of rolaids to chew on….

0-3

1-3

2-3

2-4

3-4

4-4

5-4

6-4

7-4

8-4...victory.

With solid net play from Meghan and excellent groundstrokes by both Cowgirls, the Tigers had little left in their reserves to counter the onslaught of angle-polooza, deep play, and the maturing shot selection of our Cowgirls.

Court 3 dubs held a different outcome, but before you tune out, understand we didn’t win on this court, but the ladies played excellent tennis.  This was clearly a stretch court. Avery, a first year player. Bea, only having limited experience herself, played against the Tigers #4 and 6. Understand these Cowgirls are racked 14th and 16th respectively, but I wanted to see something special from both of them.  

Charging to a 3-0 lead to begin the match, I thought the Cowgirls had smooth sailing over the remainder games.  

3-1

3-2

3-3

Being young in play and mental game, this change in tides came as a shock to the Cowgirls.  Finally raising their game in part, the Cowgirls failed to break the Tigers but held their own serve.

4-4

This new energy didn’t last.  

Still playing solid tennis, the Tigers simply kept the ball in play longer.

The Cowgirls went down 5-8 on Court 3, but the silver lining was this:

Bea played exceptional net.  Her returns of serve crosscourt and away.

Avery played the best tennis of her young career.  Running the baseline to and fro while Bea held net, Avery was able to find the perfect distance between ball and self while stroking the ball deep into the corners.  This has not happened before during practice or matches. This was awesome. The points grew longer, rallies more intense. Shot selection better. Sure the Tigers won, but the cowgirls grew their game tonight as the Grinch’s heart grew in size in the closing pages of the his self titled book.  Progress, development, and promise of emerging players in the weeks and years to come.

This was a good night.

Dubs went to SW, 2-1

7-2 overall for the evening.

Cowgirls rise to 9-0 on the year and will play Conference foe Western at home on Thursday.

Elle Ramsey (R) over Meghan Whalen (SW) 8-5

Christina Alentino (SW) over Tala Kiandost (R) 9-8

Annie Bodin (SW) over Emma Hodge (R) 8-2

Laney VanDorp(SW) over Ruby Vemp(R) 8-3

Lauren Cook(SW) over Madeline Benry(R) 8-0

Heaven Dukes(SW) over Lexi Honeycutt(R) 9-8

Whalen/Cross (SW) over Ramsey/Kiandost (R) 8-4

Alethea Yu/Johaina Apolinario (SW) over Hodge/Benry(R) 8-1

Vemp/Honeycutt (R) over Bea Calwitan/Avery McCaskill (SW) 8-5

Cowgirls rise to 9-0 on the season