Aug 15, 2017

Southwest hosting the Lady Tigers of Ragsdale in non-conference tennis action

Southwest 6, Ragsdale 3

Ragsdale….the final frontier…..understand Southwest has been 6 times bitten in the last three years by the Lady Tigers in match play.  If you remember the epic play from last season, the Cowgirls were up on 4 courts before eventually falling on 3 of them as the heat, humidity, and apparently the universe was against us.  But this is a new year.  Ragsdale lost their top two ladies while the Cowgirls only dropped their #3 from the line-up.  If we were going to defeat Ragsdale, this was the year.

With Sam Hamrick back in the line-up, Lanie Van Dorp was able to play her strong talent spot at #6.  With a strong showing yesterday v HPC, Lanie stepped it up in today’s action, routing the new player in a season best 39 minutes.

Sam Hamrick was next off the courts.  Though falling 1-8 to a very talented Lady Tiger, Sam was able to hang with her opponent throughout the match, drawing close at Duece 5 times but unable to convert.  Sam’s sacrifice allowed #4-6 their chance to shine.

Katelyn Leinbach, true and solid, found herself at zero and her opponent at 3.  Though my crack team of pollsters are still out, I have gut feeling no one likes to be at such a disadvantage in their play.  Slightly taken back by her play, Coach was able to step in and calm/focus her on what was at hand.  Step back, hit the angles, play it deep.  Katelyn in turn delivered on the bill of sale coach handed her.  Katelyn held serve the rest of the match and in fact, broke her opponents serve 4 times in a row!  To clue those in the back row, that means Katelyn won the next 8 games straight.  She held strong while her opponent began to wane in her stamima….an amazing accomplishment for Katelyn.

Going long on courts 4, 1 and 2 did little to ease Coach’s nerves.  Meghan Whalen, though strong in the beginning, felt the tide turn, and turn once more in her match.  Beginning 3-1, focus went…..did you see that squirrel!  ….oh where were we?  Meghan now down 3-4, she held and broke going up 5-4.  Her opponent too broke and held, 5-6.  Meghan held and broke, 7-6, and moving her legs all the more, closed out the match while holding her serve and great ball placement.

Kyra Akande came out serving big!  Her opponent could do little in the way of return and subsequent shots.  Then kyra went cold.  From 3-1 lead to 3-4 turn of events growing to a 3-5 and a 3-6….the peanut gallery were not taking the long shot on this one.  But due to Kyra’s maturity and adjustments, she didn’t give up the ghost, rather, she began to fight back.  Tweaking her serve, shaving a bit of speed off of it and her forehand to get it in, Kyra began to play more consistent.  Going for the shots when available but playing smart tennis, thought she did end up dropping the match 6-8, Kyra showed a level of playing maturity not seen on her court very often.  Tying out a new tennis app, Kyra was able to get her 1^st serve in 64% of the time with 30 forehand winners (ladies and gentlemen, it is vicious when she connects).  Look for more states as the season progresses.

Mai Vo, #1 court, up against a well improved player from last year’s Ragsdale team, came out of the gate swinging.  Figuratively, clearly.  The conference and USTA frown upon blatantly hitting your opponent before, during and after play.    In short, not too many bench clearing brawls in tennis.  Mai hitting deep and well but answered nonetheless by her opponent kept taking and giving throughout the entire match.  First up a break, then down, then up again at 6-5.  Tigers hold.  6-6.  Mai holds 7-6.  Going for the break in serve, it still took 3 dueces to see the tigers draw it to a 7-7 tie.  Battling fatigue, Mai serves and holds.  8-7 (must win by two).  Really not wanting to go to a tiebreak, coach had a pep talk with Mai.  Legs, move them, and consistent shots.  Corners were near out of the question due to fatigue and fear of going wide, so the consistency game it was.  Long rallies, no deuces, and Mai breaks the Lady Tigers serve, and gives the Cowgirls an edge going into dubs.

Singles 4-2 Cowgirls

Dubs:

Akande needing to rest, Sam and Vo partnered up to #1 dubs, Meghan and Lanie #2, Leinbach/Gretchen Cross #3.

Leinbach and Cross were off the courts first, easily taking care of their opponents 8-2.  Net play was swift, the cross courts were deep, and the approach shots simply lay at their opponent’s feet.  This match gave the Cowgirls their first win against Ragsdale in 4 years.

Sam and Lanie fell into an early hole, but were able to begin the climb out of it.  Playing against a more experienced squad, the Cowgirls fought well, initially down, drawing it closer to a 4-5.  Trading serves back and forth, the Cowgirls showed spirited play at the net and impressive rallies before succumbing to the Lady Tigers 6-8.

Vo/Hamrick, clearly not established pair, but allowing Kyra to rest, went out with a mission.  Keeping their shots in check, moving well, hitting deep, the upset of the night goes to these two ladies with an 8-6 victory over their more established opponents.

Dubs 2-1 Cowgirls

6-3 overall in favor of the Cowgirls.

Mai Vo (SW) over Meghan O’Neal (R) 9-7

Abby Ramsey (R) over Kyra Akande (SW) 8-6

Suzanne Herndon (R) over Sam Hamrick (SW) 8-1

Meghan Whalen (SW) over Olga Elezovic  (R) 8-6

Katelyn Leinbach (SW) over Ellie Ramsey  (R) 8-3

Lanie Van Dorp (SW) over KC Colbert (R) 8-2

Dubs

Vo/Hamrick (SW) over O’Neal/Herndon (R) 8-6

A Ramsey/Elezovic (R) over Whalen/Van Dorp (SW) 8-6

Leinbach/Gretchen Cross (SW) over E Ramsey/Clair Kennington (R) 8-2

Ragsdale opens the season with a loss while the Cowgirls mark another win against former conference rivals – now 2-0

Ragsdale rest for the remainder of the week while the Cowgirls play host to the Southeast Lady Falcons on Thursday.