October 5, 2016 – HPC

Losing 5 of the top 7 to graduation and with so many new faces and playing styles rotating through the top 6, it was hard for me as a coach to point to the end of the season and say we will finish here.

We are now at the end of the regular season, and honestly, the future looks bright.  We have come together in our play so nicely toward the end of the season with great hope and promise that the ladies will continue their level of play into the post season and even into next summer/season.  How do I know that?  Read further…..

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We hosted the Lady Bison of HPC in our second encounter and final regular season match.  Having lost by a matter of points last meeting (4-5), I wasn’t sure how we would do this time.  When the matches are as close in play and style as HPC and SW matches normally are, it is hard to gauge who will break through until they actually do it.

Kyra Akande Court 1

Mai Vo Court 2

Ellen Druebbisch Court 3

Sam Hamrick Court 4

Katelyn Leinbach Court 5

Meghan Whalen Court 6

Meghan exited the courts first tonight.  The Bison swapped out their bottom two players for their regulars for our second match.  This turned out to be pivotal in the Cowgirls play.  Matching up much better than the first time, Meghan was able to strike the ball with much more pace, making her girl run from side to side and pressing her deep – causing her to make simply errors.  With a serve that was simply on, Meghan had little trouble closing out the first match 6-0.  I prepped her for the renewed energy from the Lady Bison.  Holding tight through the first 8 games – 4 to 4, Meghan finally found her break, holding serve and breaking her opponent’s serve to give her the win 6-4 in the second set.

Ellen, still nursing her ankle from last time we played HPC, was able to impose her game on her opponent.  Eskew (HPC) did battle nicely, pushing Ellen into longer rallies and corner to corner action before Ellen’s strength shined through, winning 4 and 4.

Mai not feeling great today, charged forward with an early lead and held on to win the first 6-3.  The second set took a bit more time and energy.  Mai, unable to close it out effectively, shifted her focus on longer rallies to wear down her opponent.  Pushing when the opportunity arose, Mai was able to hold serve and outpace her opponent taking the second set 6-4.

Allow the reader to understand, last encounter we lost on courts 1,4,6 with courts 4 and 6 going down in the third set.  Court 5 was won in the 3^rd set...11-9.  We left singles 3-3 on the 4-5 loss back three weeks ago.  That the Cowgirls came out swinging and making contact putting us up 3-0 without as much fanfare, this was feeling good tonight.

Katelyn finished her match 3 and 4.  Though pushed from a harder hitting and more athletic opponent, Katelyn’s calm smooth and deep shots give the Lady Bison too much to deal with in their match.  Consistently was the key tonight in Katelyn’s win.  Power is nice, but placement and consistently trump that style of play often.

4-0   What?!?!?!

Yes, 4-0

Knowing that at worse the Cowgirls would be up 4-2 going into dubs, this good feeling began to turn into a gleeful joy.

Kyra came off next.  Kyra played the Lady Bison Ms Weston tooth and nail in the first set, holding serve, breaking serve, losing serve before falling 5-7 in the first set.  Changing her game slightly, Ms Weston was able to focus her strengths and finished out taking the second set 6-3.  Understand Kyra did better tonight than she had in the last 3 encounters with Ms Weston – winning more games than she had in the last two encounters.   Adjusting nicely, serving much more controlled, and her forehand and backhand gaining maturity instead of a knee jerk reaction, Kyra was able to hold on and nearly take the first set.  No, not a victory, but a win all the same in playing.

4-1

Sam was the last Cowgirl off the court in singles tonight.  In a turn from last encounter, Sam was able to play her game and hold 6-4 in the first.  Though not confident on her chances in the second in light of her opponent’s surging play, Sam called me over.  The one thing she and I chatted about during our practice yesterday was the one phrase, “I will not over hit.”  All I did was remind her of this one phrase.  In repeating it back to me I knew she had it.  Playing even over the next 8 games, Sam was able to outlast her opponent, breaking her at last and taking the 2^nd set 6-4.  A great win for Sam!

5-1 - Cowgirls

And if the reader doesn’t understand this significance, to win a dual team match, a team needs to secure 5 wins in either singles or doubles.  In addition, the Cowgirls have not taken the win in singles against the Lady Bison in over 4+ years.  Coming back to from a 4-5 loss the last 2 seasons to beat a very talented team 5-1 in singles just shows the maturity that the Cowgirls finally put together at this stage in the season.  Coaches and commentators speak about peaking at the right time.  I believe we are well on our way heading into the Conference Tourney beginning next Tuesday.

Dubs:

Vo/Druebbisch Court 1

Akande/Gretchen Cross Court 2

Hamrick/Whalen Court 3

Having secured the win in singles, Doubles became a very enjoyable experience.

Akande and Cross exited the courts first.  Unfortunately, their efforts didn’t produce a win.  They did have a great time but were unable to capture the magic from last time v the Lady Bison.

5-2

Hamrick and Whalen did something they really haven’t done all season.  Communicate and run.  These coupled with excellent net play and cross court returns spelled the end of the Bison’s run as the Cowgirls drop the Bison 8-5.

6-2

Having already decided the Conf. Tourney partners and play designations for next week, tonight’s dubs on Court 1 was simply vindication of the last encounter where Ellen horribly twisted her ankle…unable to continue, Mai and Ellen had to forfeit the match.  Along with other missed opportunities, this didn’t do much for our 4-5 loss to the Bison last time.

Still not 100% on either of the Cowgirls, they played tough.  Dropping excellent shots across their opponent’s court and their net play inspired with thoughtful touch and placement, Mai and Ellen surged ahead, securing a break and finishing 8-6, turning the tide and proving who was the best dubs team tonight.  Oh to go back three weeks ago and replay that match without a twisted ankle, but unfortunately, Mr Peabody and Sherman’s WABAC machine was and continues to be unavailable for use.  The Cowgirls will take special pride in tonight’s win against one of the best rivalries we have faced in all of my time as coach. 

Our collective hats off to you Lady Bison and your Coach Robbie Bean.  Bean, during your however brief sabbatical from coaching to focus your attention on your new little girl, your presence on the court will be truly missed.  I can think of no other coach with whom I have had such a great friendship and rivalry.  Good luck to you and your Lady Bison as you tackle Conference Tourney play. 

Cowgirls finish 12-9 on the season and 5-5 in the conference, tying HPC for third in the conference.

An excellent regular season and as mentioned before, a great hope of the upcoming tournament and next season as we change conferences. 

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Southwest topples HPC in conference tennis play

Bailey Weston (HPC) over Kyra Akande (SW) 7-5, 6-3

Mai Vo (SW) over Anna Eskew (HPC) 6-3, 6-4

Ellen Druebbisch  (SW) over Grace Sedberry (HPC) 6-3, 6-3

Sam Hamrick (SW) over Brooke Little (HPC) 6-4, 6-4

Katelyn Leinbach (SW) over Lauren Dulin (HPC) 6-3, 6-4

Meghan Whalen (SW) over Eliza Fisher (HPC) 6-0, 6-4

5-1 Singles – SW

Vo/Druebbisch (SW) over Weston/Eskew (HPC) 8-6

Sedberry/Little (HPC) over Akande/Cross (SW) 3-8

Hamrick/Whalen (SW) over Dulin/Fisher (HPC) 8-5

2-1 Dubs – SW

7-2 SW over HPC

Southwest Cowgirls finish the season 12-9 overall and 5-5 in conference play, tying with HPC for third in the conference.

Piedmont Triad 4-A Conference Tourney will commence Tuesday, October 11, 2016 beginning @ 3pm.