September 8, 2016 – Ragsdale                  

Honestly I didn’t know what to think going into this match.  With a heat restriction in place, I knew fatigue was going to be a factor.  We played Ragsdale last season to 4-5 losses both times, in tiebreakers, and with our new top six with 4 seniors leaving us last season and our #5 now number 3, I just wasn’t sure we had the depth to play with Ragsdale, a team that only lost 2, and they were lower on the line up.

But play we did.

Kyra Akande Court 1

Mai Vo court 2

Ellen Druebbisch 3

Sam Hamrick 4

Katelyn Leinbach 5

Meghan Whalen 6

Not to give the reader any disillusionment, the final score was not kind to the cowgirls, but the heart and play the girls gave, and how close we came, thrilled my heart.

Sam was the first off the court.  With her opponent painting the corners with her shots, Sam was running hard and felt something pull in her leg, this coupled with shooting pain….not the best scenario.  Retiring from the match the trainer looked her over.  Sam will be ok, but will need to rest for the weekend before coming back out for Monday’s match v East Forsyth.

Kyra was next off the court.  Her opponent was good.  Kyra’s game was a hit or miss throughout play.  She did come up with some incredible serves and managed to consistently hit 5 to 6 rally shots before being out paced.  No, not the best match of the season, but the base elements gave promise of future hitting gold.

Ellen’s match was a definitely highlight in the win category tonight.  Coming out to an early lead in the first, Ellen’s deft shots rolled her opponent’s will to hit and Ellen walked off the courts victorious.  It is good to be a senior!

Mai’s, Katelyn’s, and Meghan’s matches were all slated for 3^rd set honors.  Mai and Katelyn came out swinging, quickly (relatively speaking) securing their first sets.  Did I mention it was hot today?  The sun just beat down and in turn, rose back up from the blue asphalt of the courts.  Though the 2^nd floor of the C building came close today, the heat became a factor on the three remaining courts.

Mai and Katelyn’s fortune turned south about mid way through the second set.  Heat, fatigue, conditioning all became crystal clear behind the fuzzy haze of their own sweat clouding their eyes.  Their opponents took full advantage of these situations and rallied nicely, taking the 2^nd and in both cases finishing the play in the 3^rd set – super 10 pt tiebreaker. 

Meghan dropped the 1^st in losing her service once, but rallied in the second, blitzing her opponents – breaking her twice for 6-3.  Unfortunately the energy stores depleted and the footwork now gone out the window, she held tight but dropped it 8-10 in the third.

Heart breaking yes, but such incredible play from such a young team.  They are learning at such a prodigious pace, but only quality matches really hone their skill sets.  This experience will come in time.

1-5

With dubs ahead, Sam out with an injury, Katelyn to fatigue, I sat Kyra with the match decided to give three others opportunity to see quality action. 

The action was good.  Mai and Ellen on Court 1 dubs held tight, placing elegant passing shots just out of the reach of their opponents, but alas they were broken twice and fell with most games going to deuce and beyond.  They will have their day the next time we encounter the tigers.

Courts 2 and 3, Whalen/Gretchen Cross and Kristen Taylor/Zakeyia Clarke, fought hard but again, experience triumphed on the court.  We are learning.  And it will be incredible when it clicks.

The Cowgirls travel to East Forsyth on Monday and Asheboro on Tuesday before hosting the Vikings on Wednesday. 

A very full week indeed.

Madison Harmon (R)  over Kyra Akande (SW) 6-3, 6-1

Mina Akbari (R) over Mai Vo (SW) 4-6, 6-1, 10-6

Ellen Druebbisch (SW) over Meghan O’Neal (R) 6-4, 6-2

Abby Ramsey (R) over Sam Hamrick (SW) 6-0, Sam retires due to an injury

Suzanne Hearndon (R) over Katelyn Leinbach (SW) 2-6, 6-4, 10-2

Olga Elezovic (R) over Meghan Whalen (SW) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8

5-1

Harmon/O’Neal (R) over Vo/Druebbisch (SW) 8-3

Akbari/Ramsey (R) over Whalen/Gretchen Cross (SW) 8-1

Elle Ramsey/Elezovic (R) over Kristen Taylor/Zakeyia Clarke

3-0

8-1 Ragsdale over Southwest

Southwest drops to 5-5 on the season and 1-1 in conference play