With the weather beautiful and the wind beginning to bluster, Conference Day 1 began.

First Round:

Maggie Jermyn earned the #2 singles spot for conference play gifting her with a first round bye.

Sophia Nagy was first on the court, playing her #2 counterpart from EF – Lola -  with whom she split with during regular season play.
Warm up out of the way, they began.
Immediately Sophia couldn't find her serve and lost the opening game.  Quick to match her, Lola, looking very nervous, also lost her first serve...still on serve.
Sophia gained footing, holding serve with several quick rallies.
2-1, Sophia breaks, her shots now warmed up and true, 3-1.
3 games later, Sophia claims victory over Lola in the first set.

Expecting a small bump in play in the second set, Sophia was ready.  Only holding serve twice - Lola could never get over her nerves and with the deep and well placed shots, Sophia made long work of Lola claiming her first Conference victory, 6-1, 6-3

Erin Shelton/Carley Anne Bullman came onto the courts favored v #3 dubs from Ragsdale, and they did not disappoint.  Though the pace was slow, Erin's serves and Carley Anne's net play eroded the playing base of Ragsdale giving them the win 6-3, 6-3.

Catherine Jobe/Hannah Mills began play while Sophia was finishing up her match.  Playing against a very competent EF team, unable to get into a rhythm, Jobe/Mills all but gave away their first set 1-6.  Sworn by Jobe never to speak of such occurrences, a brief pep talk (fire beneath one’s own rear end) later, Jobe/Mills immediately began to play their game.  With deft play at the net and pushing their opponents deep, 6-1 in the second and on toward the super ten tiebreaker.

Never looking back, Jobe/Mills jump to a 5-1 lead and finish off their opponents 10-1 in the third, giving SW another first – all teams advanced to the second round of conference play.

Second round:
Given a small time to rest, it was time once more for the cowgirls to take the court.

Sophia, though handedly taking care of her opponent 6-1, 6-3 in the first round, ran aground, drawing the top seed of the tournament.  Though a very hard hitting and long rallied match, Sophia went down in two sets, falling just short of the third round and an entry into day 2 of the tournament/berth in regional play.

Carley Anne and Erin also took to the courts v #4 seed of the tournament, #2 dubs from NW.  Hopeful of an upset, Erin and Carley Anne set to work.  Falling behind early in the first, the cowgirls climbed back and on serve, at 4-5, they broke NW’s serve and held their own….6-5.  With one more push, holding serve once more, they took the first 7-5 – completely astounding the team from NW.

Not to be outdone, NW charged back in the 2nd set, forgetting their subpar play in the 1st set, held serve and broke the cowgirls serve claiming a 6-1 victory in the second.  1 set all and into a tiebreaker.

Fatigue becoming a issue, try as they might, Erin and Carley Anne fought hard, claiming points initially thought lost, but in the end, fell 10-5 in the third.  Probably playing some of the best tennis of the season, Erin and Carley Anne end their senior year play.

Jobe/Mills were as unlucky as Sophia in their 2nd round match drawing #2 of the tournament (#1 dubs from NW).  Having played them once before in regular season, they knew they had their work cut out for them.  Once more into the fray.  NW’s shot were punishing and their serves relentless.  No less than 5 deuces for game wins were claimed by the cowgirls but at the end of it all, only 1 converted to a game.  Jobe/Mills go down in two…just missing on their chance for day 2 conf play and a regional berth.

Lastly, Maggie Jermyn, having had a bye in the first round, drew a very favorable match v HPC.  Never looking back, Maggie rolled over her opponent, 1 and 1, claiming SW’s only spot in day two, but assuring Maggie of a regional berth next week.

Maggie plays #1 from NW with which she is 2-0 on the season against.  Should be a good match.

Thank you for joining us for the Cowgirl update presented in part by our friends at Gingerbeard productions.  Remember that you are in good hands with Gingerbeard…or maybe that was Allstate?!?!?