September 13, 2016 – Asheboro

Though a bit warmer than yesterday’s match, the weather cooperated beautifully for out tennis outing in Asheboro  - hosted by the Lady Comets of Asheboro High School.

Playing without Mai Vo for the day and Sam Hamrick for singles, The Cowgirls’ lineup shifted up as we took to the courts.

My goal for the ladies is that they also have good matches to play.  I do not want to decimate (unless it is conference play) or to be decimated (ever) – neither of those outcomes offers the ladies a chance to grow as a player.  Winning is great fun yes!, but winning while playing well is quite intoxicating. 

Kyra Akande court 1

Ellen Druebbisch court 2

Katelyn Leinbach court 3

Meghan Whalen court 4

Kristen Taylor court 5

Gretchen Cross court 6

Katelyn was the first to come off the courts.  Having taken an early lead by breaking her opponent twice, she began to dream of somewhere else but the court, losing two games in a brief mental lapse, Katelyn quickly took to her guns and shut down the rest of the Lady Comet’s hope 10-4.

Gretchen over powered her opponent in a slight mismatch of talent, pushing her deep into the corners, hitting pace which exceeded her opponents talent level, Gretchen cruised to a 10-2 win.

Ellen exited victorious against a big server with a game to match.  Going up a break in the opening game, both sides exchanged serves with no real playing advantage from either.  Ellen return of serves could do little to stop the power coming from the other side, but her opponent could do little against Ellen’s consistent and well placed power.  Up 7-6, Ellen holds serve.  8-6.  The Lady Comet pushed her power too much, double faulting twice giving the game to Ellen,  9-6.  Ellen, deft with her placement for one more game came away with the victory 10-6.

Meghan began play with quite the unorthodox opponent who only hit high loopy shots from the baseline and returned everything Meghan was throwing at her.  Frustrated, Meghan began to use her power.  Unfortunately, the power pushed long or into the net.  After a chat with coach, Meghan settled nicely, choosing to play the point, drawing out the rally and allowing for a more approachable, ideal shot before unleashing.  Losing only 1 game in the next 9, Meghan secured the 4^th victory of match play.

Kristen Taylor also had a roller coaster of a match.  Hitting against a talented Lady Comet with well trained groundstrokes, Kristen held a tentative lead through the first 5 games.  Faltering in her serve and the Blue Comet holding, Kristen stared at a game down for the next two exchanges.  Breaking once more in a game ripe with long rallies and baseline play, Asheboro looked poised for victory 7-5.  After what could only be described as words from on high – or a chat with coach – whichever the reader is inclined to believe, Kristen settles down, benefited by her opponents change in game plan of hitting lower, Kristen fires off 5 straight games for the win.  Not just a win, but a come from behind win…these taste the sweetest.  And with Kristen’s victory, SW clinched the win from the Lady Comets.

Kyra was the last off the courts.  She too played quite well, challenging her opponent for sustained rallies back and forth from the baseline, developing a soft touch with her drop shots and even leading 6-3 at one time.  But her opponent was quality as all #1’s are.  Her opponent buckled down, gained her sprinting legs to reach Kyra’s drop shots, serving hard and out wide, she climbed back into the match.  A bit more consistent than Kyra, #1 Lady Comet secured the only singles win against the Cowgirls.

5-1

Having won the match and not wanting to tire out the Cowgirls, Coach played up in doubles allowing for the lower ranked Cowgirls a chance of securing their varisty letter.

Hamrick/Whalen #1 dubs

Johaina Apolinario/Linsie Ravel #2

Alethea Yu/Heaven Dukes #3

Doubles unfortunately was not as victorious for the Cowgirls as singles were.  Hamrick/Whalen (traditionally Cowgirls #3 dubs team) fought hard against the Blue Comet’s 1/2 players but were not able to gain much traction, winning only two games in the race to eight, they still held tough against the onslaught.  I wanted to give them an opportunity to see and play against very powerful and well placed serves coupled with great footwork and shots.  This will be valuable through the rest of the season and rolling into the Fall ’17 season as well.

Apolinario/Ravel playing on court #2 for the first time held nicely in the first 5 games before being broken and falling behind by one game.  Johaina’s excellent net play and Linsie’s well hit baselines kept them in contention before falling 8-5 b y match end.  I must say it was some of the best play I have seen the two Cowgirls offer up this season.  The wins will come.  Just give them time.

Yu and Dukes were able to secure the lone victory in doubles for the Cowgirls.  This victory game Alethea her first Varsity win and Heaven her 2^nd.  Never failing behind, the Cowgirls exchanged serves until the 14th game of the match when they broke the Lady Comets securing a well fought victory.

Cowgirls win 6-3 in well fashioned play against the talented Lady Comets of Asheboro.

Hannah Eldara (A) over Kyra Akande (SW) 10-6

Ellen Druebbisch (SW) over Angie Pincus (A) 10-6

Katelyn Leinbach (SW) over Elizabeth Redding (A) 10-4

Meghan Whalen (SW) over Isa Garcia (A) 10-3

Kristen Taylor (SW) over Georgia Shipley (A) 10-7

Gretchen Cross (SW) over Hannah Clark (A) 10-2

5-1

Eldara/Pincus (A) over Hamrick/Whalen (SW) 2-8

Redding/Shipley (A) over Johaina Apolinario/Linsie Ravel (SW) 5-8

Alethea Yu/Heaven Dukes (SW) over Garcia/Emma Nunn (A) 8-6

1-2

(SW) 6-3

Southwest sits on a two game win streak rising to 7-5 on the season and remain 2-1 in conference play.

Southwest hosts Northwest on Wednesday 4:30