Sept 18 @NW

4-5 loss to perennial powerhouse Northwest

Not the ending the Cowgirls and Coach dreamt of last night in prep of today’s match

Three girls out of the top six for the Cowgirls, Coach knew this would be an uphill battle at best.  But we were so close.

Weidl (NW) on court one was a beast in the most wonderful way.  Audrey was able to claw two games from NW’s grasp as well as go to deuce in 5 other games but couldn’t convert those.  against the former and most likely future state qualifier.

Meghan couldn’t find her footing in the first set losing in a tiebreak, but roared back in the 2nd 6-3 forcing a 3rd set tiebreak.  Holding tight at 6-6, Meghan’s hold on the last 4 points slipped away and gave the victory to NW.

There was just no stopping Lanie as she all but destroyed her opponent 2 and 2.  She was hitting all her corners and clearly her serves were on point.  

Tran ran against a wall of a Viking.  Losing the first set 1-6, Coach chatted with Tran and a new game plan was established….the game of slowing the ball down.  Drawing her opponent into her stylized game, Tran was still unable to convert the break points and lost the second 4-6.

Court 6 before we see how court 5 finished.

Lauren Harris proved too much for her opponent 6-1, 6-4.  NW pushed LAuren a bit in the 2nd set, seeking a resurgence, but Lauren held tight to the reigns and refused to concede holding off the Viking.

Frequent readers have been witnessed to Nicole Sopala’s adventures in her 3 set loss last week and her marathon 2 hr 46 minute match on Monday loss in the third set on Monday.  Nicole needed a win. NW’s #5 was talented, and big on returns. She was able to capitalize on Nicole’s slow beginning. 3-6. Coach and Nicole chatted, and she soon settled into her game.  6-3 Nicole. ALL of the points were long. Yes, Nicole knows how to rally.  

The tiebreak. 

Nicole and her opponent rallied long and deep.  Finally coach was able to hear the ladies calling the score….8-4 Nicole’s favor.  

Two more points and Nicole could grab a 3rd set win!

An error.

8-5

An shot sailed long

8-6

She still has it, no problem.

A problem

8-7

Come on!

8-8

{*!?@#$%!} [Cowboy has bleeped out the words that crossed coach’s mind during the next few points.]

8-9

Wrong way!

9-9

Thank you [insert deity name here]

9-10

Nicole likes to cause coach emotional stress

10-10

11-10

Right there

11-11

11-12

12-12

Please, let her win!

13-12

Your will be done

14-12

Relief.

3-3 after singles.

Coach really wanted a 4-2 cushion going into dubs, but he has faith in the girls.

With Weidl playing dubs at #1, honestly, it didn’t matter who was playing with her, Weidl played the better part of 90% of the court.  Serb/Whalen fought hard, hitting some of the best shots of their matches tonight, but the deft shots were mostly all answered as the Cowgirls fall on Dubs court #1 1-8.

Two courts left.

Lanie and Tran partnered up again for dubs.  Starting slow, they quickly warmed up the courts with their short angles and deep corners.  8-3 victory

4-4 match total with one court left.

Nicole partnered up with Early college friend MAggie Mugi for the final match of the night.  Tight at first, the Cowgirls forced a break and went up 6-3 in a race to 8 games.

But success made them complacent.  The legs apparently stopped working and their shot selection was out of fear of losing.

6-4

6-5

6-6

6-7

7-7

7-8

And unable to hold their serve the cowgirls lose dubs court #3 7-9 as well as the match.

It was close and well played on both sides, but unfortunately for the Cowgirls, they came up short tonight.

Elizabeth Weidl (NW) over Audrey Serb (SW) 6-2, 6-0

Kate Gentel (NW) over Meghan Whalen (SW) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 10-6

Lanie Van dorp (SW) over KAterina Villeron (NW) 6-2, 6-2

Kimberly Brown (NW) over Tran Nguyen (SW) 6-1, 6-4

Nicole Sopala (SW) over 3-6, 6-3, 14-12

Lauren Harris (SW) over Fabby Castillo (NW) 6-1, 6-4

Dubs:

Weidl/ (NW) over Serb/Whalen (SW) 8-1

Van Dorp/Nguyen (SW) over Gentel/Villerman

Emma White/M Rashkov (NW) over Nicole Sopala/Maggie Mugi (SW) 9-7

Cowgirls fall to 2-0, 8-1 and the Vikings rise to 5-3 on the season

Cowgirls travel to Wheatmore Thursday for another non-conference match.