Being the last match of the season, it was time to honor the seniors for their hard work and dedication to the SW tennis program. 

Seniors were:

Maggie Jermyn

Armani Kasey

Carley Anne Bullman

Erin Shelton

Stephanie Ajibola

Brittney Lee

Time for the match:

Catherine Jobe (#4) and Erin Shelton (#5) were the first off the courts, both racking up quick victories – 1 & 3 and 1 & 2 respectively.  Maggie Jermyn (#1) came off shortly after with a 0 & 2 win.  Hannah Mills (#3) fought hard against a very tough opponent, eventually losing 3 &1.  Sophia Nagy (#2), though dropping the first set 3-6, once more, held serve through the first half of the second set, climbing back slowly, tied at 4-4, HPC holds serve, 4-5.  Sophia, falls behind love-15, love-30, 15-30, 15-40 and in the final point, playing an excellent long rally, but eventually lost to a great opponent.

The singles match of the day went to Kyra Akande (#6), a relative newcomer to the top six.  With impressive serves and punishing forehands and backhands, Kyra fought hard against the small human backboard.  But everything she threw at her opponent, HPC simply made one more returned shot.  The match was tense.  With the first set going down to the wire but HPC coming up the victor 6-4.  The second set looked more favorable for Kyra.  Moving well around the court, the small Bison continued to get Kyra’s shots back, even if just barely.  Each trading holding serves, at 3-3, HPC holds.  3-4.  Kyra trying every angle she can hit and all of the power she can muster, falls in the final two games giving the Bison their 3-3 tie going into dubs

Doubles began under the lights.  Jobe/Mills #1, Shelton/Carley Anne Bullman (#2) and Mai Vo/Katherine Quinn (#3).

Jobe/Mills were the first to exit from the courts.  Drawing a very tough #1 dubs from HPC – previous victors v NW’s #1 dubs team, the Cowgirls went down swinging 2-8.  HPC #1 dubs should play for conference champions in dubs play.

Vo/Quinn, dropped the first 3 games early with little hope in their disjointed play, but holding at 1-4, began the climb.  Drawing close and on serve, HPC led 5-4.  Trading back and forth, 5-5, 5-6, 6-6, 6-7, with Mai serving, the bison were able to capitalize on a brief moment of uncertainty during a play, giving them the edge and eventually the match.  Look forward to seeing Vo and Quinn in the top six next year.

The dubs match of the night goes to Shelton/Bullman.  Recently placed together when Sophia announced her singles intentions in conference play, this was only their second match as a dubs team….and they certainly impressed.  As with #3 dubs for the Cowgirls, Shelton/Bullman fell behind from a Bison fast start.  Down on serve, both Erin and Carley Anne traded serves with their Bison counterparts, a break….in the favor of the Cowgirls….now tied 6-6.  Holding serve and with incredible volleys and overheads at the net, the score now reflecting 7-6 Cowgirls.  Coach is beside himself, though the match had already been decided, a victory here would be but a moral victory in the good fight v HPC, it was one that carried weight going into Conference. 

Love-love

15-love

30-love

40-love

40-15

Game.

Though falling 4-5 to HPC, the Cowgirls bettered their previous meeting and showed their strength just ahead of Conference play.

Let the games begin.