Cowgirls lose in a close match against conference foe Grimsley 4-5 in a tight tennis match

Coming into tonight’s match, Coach had confidence in our playing ability, but seeing the stats of the last few matches the Cowgirls played vs the result of play from the Lady Whirlies, Coach was not running out to place bets.  Newsflash….NCHSAA just recently opened their betting site for all high school playing action….NCHSAASportsBetting.com.  Coach cannot wait for Friday night football action!

Back to tale of the Tennis Cowgirls.

Grimsley is good.  They were up to NW in singles 4-2 before faltering 0-3 in dubs.  Coach knew they had strength.  Nothing against the Cowgirls, but we were stronger last year and still came up short 4-5.  Tonight????  It would be an uphill battle.

Lauren was the first off the courts tonight.  Moving quite well on her ankle, Lauren was unable to match the pace of play and hitting depth of her counterpart.  She falls 0 and 0. 

Audrey all but destroyed her opponent.  Hitting out a bit too much during the first set before settling into her rhythm before blanking the Lady Whirlie in the second set using her deft power, and immediately switching it up to play quite the finesse game close to the net, therefore drawing her opponent in and should she get it back, going deep once more.  The second set was much like a cat playing with a newly caught mouse.  The mouse put up quite the fight, but it was against Audrey…and the cat was hungry tonight.  2 and 0.

Betsy played incredible tennis tonight.  The first set, not so great.  The Lady Whirlie had her left to right.  Hitting deeper than Betsy, hitting her corners better than Betsy.  Serves were better…The reader should get the point of where Coach was leading you….and then she came to the fence.  “Coach! What can I do?”  Coach simply loves when the ladies ask his for his input.  He responded, ”She is more consistent than you.  She is distancing you in the corners and on consistency…you need to run down everything.  You need to get the ball back over one more time.  You have the Consistency to do this, now you need to do this!”  And reader, she did. 

Down 1-6 in the first set, though close in the individual game points, Betsy begins to run after everything…to anticipate a bit better, and more importantly, get the ball back over.  Unable to counter a defense to this new life, the Whirlie fell 6-1 in the second set forcing a third set tiebreaker.  Though close, Betsy prevailed 10-6!  She turned the tide from a not so pretty loss to a glorious and gutsy win.  Regardless of the win, Betsy proved to herself she could play at this level.  That was the real win.  1-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6).

Jada ran afoul of a talented Whirlie on court 6.  Hitting right outside of Jada’s range, Jada played defense all game unable to attack to the net with her near patented cross-court approach shots.  In doing this, the Whirlie was able to press her game on Jada.  Jada is talented, but still growing as a player in her own right.  The Whirlie, playing her own game, left little on the court for Jada to make much out of and in doing so, won 1 and 4. 

Anna…..Anna.  Wow!  Reader, please understand the Whirlies were simply stronger from courts 2-6 with Audrey being the one exception.  They were just like our same seeded players, but better.  Deeper shots, stronger serves, more consistent….yes, much like what was explained for Betsy’s match….but Coach’s goal, though noble to dream about a state championship, he one goal is for the Cowgirls, when faced with a comparable player at or better than themselves, will have the skillset to overcome.  Betsy did it….and so did Anna.

The Whirlie hit harder and deeper, but Anna had a slice.  Better anticipating the forehand of her opponent after a quick chat with Coach, Anna began run with ease, set her footing and play the Whirlie with a counter stroke.  The Whirlie simply overhit.  She went wide.  She went deep.  Frustrated, she lost the first set to Anna, 2-6.

Up a set, Anna was a bit confident….but what is this?  The second set bump!  No!!!!!!!!!  Taking the first three games by holding twice and breaking once, Anna came to the fence for Coach’s words of wisdom.  The Whirlie had apparently had switched games and began playing Anna’s back spin game…a safer alternative to the forehand topspin that kept landing out.  Coach reassured Anna that she (Anna) had the stronger spin game and to keep at it.  This bump would soon pass. 

0-3 became

0-4….became

0-5. 

Up 5-0 in the second set, the Whirlie began hitting her topspin power game.

Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Welcome to Anna’s Dominion!

Coach was paying close attention to this and Rachael’s match since they were the only two single left on the court. 

And it clicked.  Coach’s advice was heeded.  The Whirlie left an opening.  Clearly down 0-5, the opening wasn’t wide at all, but Anna found a way.  Hitting deeper, but with her backspin at the ready, as the Whirlie stepped around and hit her bigger forehand, Anna simply stepped over and intercepted it, spinning it back with a slice forehand deep and kept it in play.  The Whirlie’s backhand was sufficient, but nowhere the power stroke her forehand was….and Anna was very skilled and pushing the Whirlie around, deeper still, and to her backhand. 

1-5.

This beget 2-5, because One (is the Loneliest Number). 

2 invited friends 3 and 4 to the party.

5 came uninvited, but was welcomed in warmly when it showed up.

3 made a phone call and 6 joined.

6-5 Anna.  One more to go. And 7 got stuck on the highway in heavy traffic.  Two deuces later and 7 showed.

7-5 from a 0-5 deficit…Reader, that is 7 games straight against a heck of a Whirlie player. 

6-2, 7-5  Coach simply smiled.

Up 3-2 with Rachael still playing.

If we can get the 4^th match win in singles, it would put us in great position for the match.

Down the first set, 2-6, again playing a better overall player, both Coach and Coach Wesney gave Rachael sage advice….and it began to turn.

Down 1-2 on serve, Rachael began hitting crisper shots,  Though not burning her opponent off the court, the silly mistakes dwindled to almost nil while her consistency rose through the roof.  No longer trying to kill it, Rachael turned to a game of attrition….can I get this ball back one more time?  And it began to work.  Holding tight and winning her serve, 2-2.  The points became much longer.  Longer Rallies.  More consistent hitting.  Back and forth, with loads of running and more hitting on top of that.

Finally taking the break, Rachael looked poised to take the second and force the third set tiebreak.  Longer Rallies still!  Deuce three times!  And she lost the opportunity.

6 all…a tiebreak to decide the second set. 

1-0

2-0

2-1

3-1

3-2

3-3

Coach did make the ladies give him Tums, Extra Strength, before they began the season….Coach was walking around quite a bit.

Score – score????  Again, Coach needed an antiacid…and therapy.

7-7 when coach comes back within ear shot of the ladies calls.

7-8

8-8

8-9

9-9

9-10

And another long rally and Rachael miss hits the ball and it, striking the net cord and falling on her side.

A great run.  A great match as Rachael falls 2-6, 6-7 (9-11) in a 2 hour and 52 min match.

Tied now 3-3 after singles…Cowgirls would need an extraordinary effort to overcome the Whirlies in dubs.

Before we begin dubs coverage, understand that NO High School Sport plays for as long as women’s tennis.  Football, though 4 hours is the norm, there are substitutions, defense and offense, and don’t forget special teams.  Wrestling….three periods of 2-3 mins a piece.  Track and Field…multiple events….but 3 hours worth….no.  Soccer, Lax and the like all have time limits.

Tennis stands alone in the daily effort of these players to play this length of time, with running, alone….and then still play dubs.  Yeah, Tennis players are a special breed. 

Waiting on Rachael to finish her match, Coach sends out Jada and Caroline Church for #3 dubs.  Serves were good.  Their returns and cross courts effective, but the net play suffered as the Whirlies ate their lunch when they began to move into the net.  No shame in saying this, the Whirlies were simply as better team tonight on Court #3 dubs.  The Cowgirls played hard, but came up short 3-8.

Betsy and Rachael….after a brief rest, took to the courts on Court #2.  Serves were solid.  Returns went deep cross court or lifted ever so elegantly over the heads of the Whirlies forcing them back with net play consistent, the Whirlies simply mounted an offense that left the Cowgirls wanting.  Rachael and Betsy fought and stayed in most points and games but came up short, 1-8. 

Though having won the match overall, there was little reason to stop play on Court 1 dubs.

Down initially after a much-maligned overhitting display by Audrey, the Cowgirls quickly leveled the playing field allowing for only one hold by the Whirlies.  Playing an inspired game, both Audrey and Anna displayed a level of play that could only be described as a picturesque sunset across the mountain tops of the Blue Ridge Parkway as the leaves begin to turn and fall away, the weather turning cooler, as you warm yourself with that special someone and a mug of hot chocolate….knowing the sun would soon set behind the mountain, but being enthralled by the pace and beautiful God unfolded before your eyes for a brief moment in time.

Yeah, just like that.

8-2 crushing of Grimsley #1. 

In spite of the Cowgirls efforts throughout the afternoon into evening (now 9:10pm), Grimsley prevailed tonight in a closer than anticipated match 5-4.

Audrey Serb (SW) over Cambree Spencer (G) 6-2, 6-0

Gianna Blacutt (G) over Lauren Harris (SW) 6-0, 6-0

Anna McGinnis (SW) over Lindsay McRea (G) 6-2, 7-5

Violet Sprange (G) over Rachael Dee (SW) 6-2, 7-6 (11-9)

Betsy Chen (SW) over Whitley Kemp (G) 1-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6)

Morgan Hall (G) over Jada Speight (SW) 6-1, 6-4

Audrey Serb/Anna McGinnis (SW) over McRea/Sprange (G) 8-2

Spencer/Hall (G) over Rachael Dee/Betsy Chen (SW) 8-1

Blacutt/Kemp (G) over Jada Speight/Caroline Church (SW) 8-3

Grimsley rises to 4-1 in conference, 6-1 overall

Cowgirls fall to 3-2 in conference, 5-3 overall.

Cowgirls travel to HPC – The Lady Bison for Nonconference play on Wednesday

Play begins at 5pm.

Cowgirls host Ragsdale on Thursday

Cowgirls JV to Page on Friday

Thanks for Reading!