Aug 17, 2017

Southwest Cowgirls host the Lady Falcons of Southeast in non-conference tennis action

While prepping for the match and the first tennis ladies were arriving, I received a call telling us we couldn’t play. The WBT had spiked to just over the threshold.  So inside we all went, visitors too, until the level had dropped to acceptable levels…..it only took 30 minutes – much to the relief of all of the ladies.

With only Lanie Van Dorp absent from the top six and Gretchen Cross taking her place, we began the warm-up.  Mai came off the courts first….clocking in at just over 41 minutes for her 8-0 rout of the Lady Falcon.  Meghan, Gretchen, Katelyn the next set off – only 2 games earned against them in total.

The heat bearing down, Sam Hamrick battled her opponent for over an hour before finishing victorious 8-5.  But this wasn’t the longest match of the evening.  Kyra Akande slogged through the heat with her opponent feeling the pressure.  Neither one able to come up with the big shots to dictate the point, they both fell victim to grinding it out on the courts.  4 breaks in total.  The last for the Lady Falcon to go up 6-5, but Kyra battling back to hold and break, 7-6, and a two deuce game to finish off the match on her opponent’s serve.  Weary from the match, both ladies exited the court.

Singles 6-0 Cowgirls

Having won the match out in singles and not wanting the heat to take a further toll on the top six, I brought in fresh faces and games to battle on in doubles.

Now 3-0 on the season, I opted for Johaina Apolinario/Abby Lowe (8 and 9 seeds respectively) to play @ #1 dubs.  Alethea Yu/Lauren Cook (freshman – first varsity match) (11/12 seeds) @ #2.  And Maggie Mugi (Early College Freshman) and Heaven Dukes (#’s 10 and 13) @ #3.

Apolinario/Lowe held well against the Lady Falcons #’s 1/2 holding serve until one of the Lady Falcons rolled her ankle while going for the shot.  Not wanting to injure herself further, the Falcons retired from the match.  Yu and Cook made impressive strides, hitting deep and good court coverage to take out the Falcons 3/4 #2 dubs team.  And lastly, the duo of Mugi/Dukes roared to a lead 3-1 then fell into serve until 4-3, hold, break, 4-5, and though they came back from a 15-40 score to gain deuce twice, the Falcons had a bit more in their tanks and finished out the match 4-6.

Doubles 2-1 Cowgirls

8-1 final, Cowgirls over the Lady Falcons.

Lyra Akande (SW) over Erica Lane (SE) 8-6

Mai Vo (SW) over Calli Medlin (SE) 8-0

Sam Hamrick (SW) over Lauren Skerlak (SE) 8-5

Meghan Whalen (SW) over Rebecca Oster (SE) 8-1

Katelyn Leinbach (SW) over Jalyn Sams (SE) 8-1

Gretchen Cross (SW) over Sophia Patton (SE) 8-0

Dubs

Johaina Apolinario/Abby Lowe (SW) over Lane/Medlin (SE) 2-1 Lady Falcons retiring – ankle

Alethea Yu/Lauren Cook (SW) over Skerlak/Oster (SE) 6-2

Sames/Patton (SE) over Maggie Mugi/Heaven Dukes (SW) 6-4

8-1 Cowgirls

The Lady Falcons begin their season 0-1 and will play conference foe of the Blue Comets of Asheboro on Monday.

The Cowgirls strike another one in the win column, now 3-0 and will travel to Conference opponent Ben L Smith on Monday.