August 23, 2016

Southwest Cowgirls hosting the Grimsley Whirlies in tennis action                           

The main question I ask my ladies after they come off the court isn’t the score.  It doesn’t concern itself with the question of wins or losses, but rather, “How did you play?”

There is a great emphasis across the sports landscape on the “W” column, and it is what drives traffic and subsequent ticket sales, but just as Tennis Superfan Wayne Duggins explained during our staff time this morning, School Report Card Letters sell houses, but do not adequately take into account of the growth.  Tonight was a prime example of the growth the Cowgirls exhibited on the courts.  And yes, I would grade my ladies quite well on tonight’s play too!

Playing three people down in Singles, The Grimsley Coach was gracious and played with her top three sitting out the singles action. 

Ellen Druebbisch on Court 1

Meghan Whalen Court 2

Kristen Taylor Court 3

Katelyn Leinbach Court 4

Gretchen Cross Court 5

Johaina Apolinario Court 6

From the opening play, I was getting excited…we were hitting well.  As a coach, the simple things in life excite us.  The temp being just so, the slow breeze steady, the unanticipated prospect of playing as good if not better than one of the perennial power houses in women’s tennis. 

Ellen went up early in her match against the adjusted line up of the Whirlies.  At 5-4, Ellen took control stopping the game advancement of her opponent as she cruised on to a 10-4 victory.  Ellens Shots and placement were on point tonight!

Meghan, after suffering a small let down just last night v the Wheatmore #2, managed to hold tight and remain on serve until 6-7 where she broke and then held going up 8-7.  Meghan really felt her topspins tonight due to a very competent opponent with defined top spins on both sides reaching both deep and to the corners during play.  Holding both their serves respectively 9-8.  Whirlies holding serve once more, 9-9.  “Close out the match!”  10-9 and with a final break, Megan Whalen went ahead for the victory 11-9 (in tennis, you must win by 2 games).

Kristen Taylor holding court on #3 ran afoul of a well trained Whirlie.  Kristen’s lobs were on and her rallying displayed a maturity we did not get to enjoy much last night, but the strength of her opponent wore Kristen’s game down with answer after answer from the backcourt.  Excellent rallies as Ms. Taylor drops her match 4-10.  Coach remarks:  Kristen was in every point for 5, 6, 7 shots before the Whirlie was able to find an opening in the Cowgirl’s play. 

Katelyn Leinbach moved back up one spot in the rotation and played like the rallying lady who endeared her play to Coach’s heart.  Though eventually succumbing to a running fool on the other side of the net, Katelyn was able to stay in every point, challenge for every game, drawing closer and even capitalizing on  a break, but in the end, the Whirlie’s legs were better conditioned taking the match 10-8.  Epic play from two closely matches opponents.

Gretchen Cross started out a bit slow for even her own taste, but was able to challenge nicely through the remaining match play.  Dropping 4 games to her 1, Gretchen was able to break her opponent twice, but giving up her opponent the same number of times, remained on serve for the duration of the match going down 5-10.  Barring the first several games, Gretchen challenged in each game with her baseline rallies, 8-10 foot top spin hits and her developing cross court shots.  To hit consistently throughout the entire match is an attainable goal Gretchen will achieve through continues play in the top six. 

Johaina Apolinario, after falling to young player v Wheatmore last night, sprung back with her incredible willing self, going up with a break, losing serve and thus being broken repeatedly over the match, Johaina finally was able to hold serve and go up 9-8, Whirlies hold serve, 9-9.  Johaina holds serve, 10-9 – just one more game to win…Whirlies hold serve, 10-10….{dum dum dum} a tiebreaker!

Dropping the first two points in a tiebreaker (first to 7 by 2) is not the normal way one goes about winning a tiebreaker. 

0-2

1-2

2-2

3-2

4-3

5-3
6-3

7-3

11-10 final score.  Johaina pulls off quite the match win.  Both ladies come off the court exhausted, but unfortunately, only a Cowgirl with the win.

3-3 after singles.

Remember when I said the Grimsley Coach played down to offer quality tennis?  Now for the pay off.

Because the Cowgirls exceeded all expectations against a very talented team, Grimsley upped the ante and placed their top players in the lineup to complete for the win.  As I told the Cowgrils, because we challenged and won drawing the match close with a 3-3 score after singles, we had earned the right of playing their bona fide top players.

Druebbisch/Whalen Court 1

Taylor/Cross Court 2

Leinbach/Apolinario Court 3

And they brought out their big guns.  Warm butter spreads less smooth than their play on both 1 and 2 courts.  Though Druebbisch/Whalen and Taylor/Cross had moments and multiple looks near game point, the Whirlies held tight in their play and took care of business willing the respective matches and thus the dual team match too.

The real treat was in the play of the Dubs #3 Cowgirls taking on the Whirlies #3.  Back and forth with shots ranging from close volley’s  - within an arm’s reach from the net  - to sound cross court rallying and clearly spicing it up with lobs and great serving, though challenging each point and holding the lead once, Leinbach/Apolinario could not stop the Whirlies play eventually fell 8-10 in an very exciting match.

So “How did we play?”  Let me just tell you of the huge grin I have on my face as I type this play entry.  From top down, we left little on the table, pushing our bigger, stronger counterparts further than they ever thought possible in our dual team match.  No, we will not challenge for states…but tonight we played our respective play, we played our games, we challenged on points, our shots were consistent and sparkled with elements of a much more mature team…tonight the Cowgirls played well. 

Cowgirls drop to 2-3 on the season and will host Southeast Guilford tomorrow at Home beginning 4:30.

Ellen Druebbisch (SW) over Vivian Gertz (G) 10-4

Meghan Whalen (SW) over Reece Perini (G) 11-9

Haley Smith (G) over Kristen Taylor (SW) 10-4

Eddie Wood (G) over Katelyn Leinbach (SW) 10-8

Kristin Rhoades (G) over Gretchen Cross (SW) 5-10

Johaina Apolinario (SW) over Gracie Diamond (G) 11-10 (7-3)

Layna Perini/Maddie Brown (G) over Druebbisch/Whalen (SW) 8-0

Kajsa Gedlitschka/Smith (G) over Taylor/Cross (SW) 8-0

Blair Patton/Audrey Tunstall (G) over Leinbach/Apolinario (SW) 8-6