August 22, 2016

Southwest Tennis Cowgirls travel to the Wheatmore Lady Warriors        

Hats off to an incredible showing by returners and new players alike in the Warrior’s narrow take down of the Cowgirl tennis team 5-4.

Singles were tight all the way down.  Sam Hamrick did battle against a hard hitting and talented Eva Lovell (W) on court 1.  Hamrick was broken, held, broke back, held but eventually succumbed to the heat and well placed strokes of her opponent.  Meghan Whalen on court 2 and Kristen Taylor on court 3 could find their footing as their opponents Hailey Mince and Jodi Sanikone respectively went on to win with the same score of 10-4.  Gretchen Cross finally showed up for the match mentally as the score approached 2-5, but digging deep, she arrived on the court in time to take the next 6 games in a row eventually winning 10-6.  Johaina Apolinario, trading leads throughout, eventually lost her serve at the most inopportune time and exited 10-8 in favor of Wheatmore.  And lastly, on court 6, returning back to the courts after a 10 day hiatus, Katelyn Leinbach took to the courts against Skylar Craddock whom, after a few games getting familiar with the courts and lines, easily overtook and beat her opponent 10-4.

2-4

Kyra Akande and Ellen Druebbisch partnered up devastating their top seeded opponents 8-4 on court 1.  Likewise the talents of Katelyn Leinbach/Kristen Taylor on court 3 – 8-0, but where the Cowgirls ran afoul in their comeback was on court 2 with Whalen and Cross.  The Wheatmore duo of Sananikone and Mince proved too much with superior play at the net from the Lady Warriors and lack of experience from the Cowgirls.  Though a tough pill to swallow, this matched showed with pinpoint light several distinct areas of opportunity the Cowgirls will be working on the in the practices to come.

Coach and the ladies were very impressed with the strides the Warrior Tennis Program had taken in the one year since we played them last.  With a full line-up for the reciprocal match, coach sees great promise in the Cowgirls’ ability to overcome the Warriors from Wheatmore.

Southwest drops to 2-2 on the season and will host Grimsley on Tuesday at home.

Eva Lovell (W) over Sam Hamrick (SW) 10-7

Hailey Mince (W) over Meghan Whalen (SW) 10-4

Jodi Sananikone (W) over Kristen Taylor (SW) 10-4

Gretchen Cross (SW) over Nathalie Gallimore (W) 10-6

Madison Kimball (SW) over Johaina Apolinario (SW) 10-8

Katelyn Leinbach (SW) overSkylar Craddock (W) 10-4

Kyra Akande/Ellen Druebbisch (SW) over Lovell/Mince (W) 8-4

Sananikone/Gallimore (W) over Whalen/Cross (SW) 8-5

Leinbach/Taylor (SW) over Kimball/Craddock (W) 8-0