August 16, 2016

Cowgirls playing host to Wesleyan Christian Academy Lady Trojans

Charles Dickens wrote it best in his opening foray of A Tale of Two Cities.  Yes, we all know the opening, the unbridled hope of walking unto a court prior to a match, greeting the team for the first time during tryouts, the first day of school…these are the best of times.  Then reality hits.  Though I will not swing as wide as Dickens did, I will say losing has a sting of its own. 

Courts were assigned and the greetings over, the Cowgirls began warm-ups with their respective opponents.  This hitting foreshadowed the play that was to unfold.

Almost top down the Lady Trojans hit with a pace and placement that the Cowgirls had trouble coming to grips with.  Kristen Taylor, playing up at court 5, managed to play her game, but the loopy style of the Lady Trojan held Kristen at bay on the baseline and she was unable to be more effective in her zone.  Kyra Akande met up with the #20 in the state on court 1.  Kyra held well, but Brinley Bell (W), deftly maneuvered Kyra around the court and hit incredible angles to take a second win for the Lady Trojans.  Meghan Whalen held each game tight with her opponent with many of the games going to deuce, but the young Trojan proved too much for Meghan.  Ellen Druebbisch and Gretchen Cross, courts 3 and 6 respectively, meshed very well with the play of their opponents.  They both sprinted to early leads in their play, but as the match wore on, the Lady Trojans edged them out. 

The one singles win was brought forth by Mai Vo on court 2.  Mai took charge from the start.  Her play proved too difficult for her opponent to rally against.  Mai won 8-1. 

Dubs saw a return of the Lady Trojans top 6 to the courts.  Vo/Druebbisch teamed up for court 1 dubs.  Their first dubs play of the season showed great hope and great opportunity as a dubs team.  Facing Brinley Bell, again, #20 in the state, and her partner, Bell carried her partner in the win.  Though tough in play, Vo/Druebbisch were able to claw back 2 games in a late match surge.  Akande and Cross partnered up on court 2 dubs.  Cross with an uncanny instinct at the net and Kyra’s hard hitting shots, they were able to take their play to a 6-8 loss.  A bit of a mental hiccup during the middle of play was the only thing that prevented Dubs 2 from clinching victory from a very talented Lady Trojan team.  Shot for shot and stroke for stroke, Akande/Cross played their equal across the net. 

Whalen/Taylor, playing their first match together at Dubs 3, quickly adjusted their play against a deep baseline playing dubs team.  Though going down 2 breaks, they sprung back taking those two breaks back and poised for a hold on serve, one of the Lady Trojans attempted to go for a shot out wide when her ankle rolled immediately ending play for the Trojans on Court three.  Whalen/Taylor had great promise of coming back, much like their play on Monday in singles v Trinity.  Our prayers are with the Lady Trojans in the speedy recovery of one of their own. 

So I must say that all is not bad.  Yes, the Cowgirls were taken down a notch tonight, but the hope remains, that we individually and as a team will remember the play we held to, and embrace the play we can aspire to through the season.  We will get better and the win column holds great promise of filling more rapidly than the other column. 

The Cowgirls travel to Western Guilford  - home of the Lady Hornets – to do battle on the courts tomorrow afternoon. 

The Cowgirls drop to 1-1 on the season. 

Kyra Akande (SW) loss to Brinly Bell (W) 1-8

Mai Vo (SW) over Raegan Isenhour (W) 8-1

Ellen Druebbisch loss to Samantha Tilley (W) 4-8

Meghan Whalen (SW) loss to MacLean Redmond (W) 1-8

Kristen Taylor (SW) loss to Gretchen Brown (W) 0-8

Gretchen Cross (SW) loss to Sara Beth Bulla (W) 5-8

1-5

Dubs:

Vo/Druebbisch (SW) loss to Bell/Tilley (W) 2-8

Akande/Cross (SW) loss to Isenhour/Redmond (W) 6-8

Whalen/Taylor (SW) over Brown/Bulla (W) 4-6 Trojans injury – retire

1-2

Final score

2 – 7