September 14, 2017

Cowgirls travel to the Lady Demons of RJR in nonconference tennis action

When the AD of any school calls you personally as the coach and declares [I imagine he did so with a straight face] that his tennis girls were very down for the upcoming season, do not hold it to be entirely true.  This almost reads like a bad fortune cookie.

Seeing the strength in the RJR JV team last night did little to inspire me that the Lady Demons were having a tough season from lack of talent, but I want my girls to play and play well, regardless of the outcome.  Though winning is glorious, playing your game is paramount to future success on the court.  Tonight’s match will lie firmly in that vein.

Meghan was first off the courts tonight.  Playing a wall, Meghan was unable to go neither around it nor over it.  Pressing too soon did little to wear her opponent down.  In fact, this only resulted in the quickening of the end of the first set.  Serving stronger and relaxing a bit more, Meghan had good success in drawing her opponent down the line and nailing cross courts.  Unfortunately, her opponent also began trying out a few consistency shots and was able to mitigate much of the gains Meghan had forged.  The end result, Meghan was unable to notch a win.

Sam followed suit.  Her opponent was very much a pain in the as the ball traveled back and forth; her opponent had much more control than Sam did.  Hitting deep and dropping short, Sam was only able to muster a single game as proof of her journey through singles.  It will be said that Sam was able to bring the individual games to deuce twice in the first set and 4 times in the second.  As you will read further, the cusp is a crappy seat to view a win or loss.

Mai wanted to hit against the big #1.  She got her wish.  Ms. Christie from RJR was a wonderful tennis player.  Always on the move toward the net (we call that attacking) and able to hit most of what Mai threw at her with insane speed and quick turn strokes, Mai held strong throughout the entire match.  Though only posting two games, Mai brought Ms. Christie to deuce and beyond multiple times.  This was an extremely strong showing by Mai in her defense at #1.

Gretchen had her hands full at #6.  Playing an opponent who took Gretchen back to the fences on most of her baseline rallies, Gretchen took it in stride.  Hitting well above her station, Gretchen pushed back in what was later self described as “the best worst match I have ever had.”  And as coach, I have to agree.  Serves were consistent and deep.  Baseline rallies were a sight to behold as viewed through the wind screen.  She was simply outplayed by a very talented Lady Demon.

Katelyn had one of the better showings against her opponent who liked to play the consistency game with her hitting 11 shots or more for many of the points.  The action was high above the net and deep along the baseline.  Not fast, but a strong back and forth before Katelyn bowed out 3 and 2.

Kyra was the exception to the dominance that the Lady Demons showed the Cowgirls in singles.  From the start you could hear the loud booming shots from both sides.  In matches past, it has been hard for Kyra to truly hit out when her opponents begin to push.  But her opponent did not push.  Her opponent liked her shots hard and heavily laden with topspin just like Kyra.  Trading shots and holding serve on both sides, the first 7 games of the first set was much a stalemate.  Kyra found an opening on her opponents serve in game 8.  Breaking here and holding her serve to give the Cowgirls their comfortable breath in play.  Unfortunately the second set did not roll Kyra’s way.  Shots changed, serves pushed out, shots hit long and wide, her opponent evened it up at 1 all in sets.  Onward to a 10 point tiebreaker we went.  Murphy began to pop antacids by twos and threes.  Both players so strong, so stubborn that neither relented in their playing style.  Kyra simply benefitted from this exchange.  Up 4-0 (race to 10 by 2) Kyra’s opponent claws one back.  4-1.  5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 7-5, 8-5, 9-5, 9-6, more antacids, 9-7, 9-8, two more chewed, 10-8 and the only singles win for the Cowgirls tonight.

Singles 1-5 Lady Demons favor

With the match already decided, both sides played up to offering additional hitting down seed.

Lanie partnered with Heaven at #2 dubs.  With deft net play and good coverage along the baseline, the two Cowgirls chalk a win 8-2.

Bea Calwitan and Johaina brought up the rear at #3 dubs. Though playing a great game of keep away from the person at the net, the Cowgirls faltered a few times more than the Lady Demons and slowly saw a few of their serves float away giving the win to the Demons 3-8.

But the dubs match of the night was from Sam and Meghan.  Playing #1 dubs against an adjusted lineup from the Demons, the first few games seemed evenly matched as each side felt out the particulars of the other.  Up 5-4 on serve, the Cowgirls hiccupped and lost their serve giving their opponents the lead 5-6.  Holding fast, serves traded. 6-7.  Taking advantage of a weak service game, 7-7.  Dropping another one of their own.  7-8.  Breaking back dramatically, 8-8.  A 7 (also called a 12 point) pt tiebreaker.  In short, a race to 7 by two.

Let’s start with the Cowgirls down 6-7.

7-7

8-7

8-8

8-9

9-9

10-9

10-10

11-10

11-11

11-12

11-13

And the Cowgirls take a tough loss for the night but not without a few small victories in play and competiveness while coach leaves a bit smarter and more prove to immediately hang up the phone when the Trojan horse comes calling.

Dubs 1-2 in favor of the Lady Demons.

2-7 overall on the night

Singles:

Jamie Christie (RJR) over Mai Vo (SW) 6-0, 6-1

Kyra Akande (SW) over Elizabeth Youssef (RJR) 6-3, 1-6, 10-8

Maggie Collins (RJR) over Sam Hamrick (SW) 6-0, 6-1

Marlo Kirk (RJR) over Meghan Whalen (SW) 6-0, 6-0

Emile Patti (RJR) over Katelyn Leinbach (SW) 6-3, 6-2

Mercer Sullivan (RJR) over Gretchen Cross (SW) 6-1, 6-1

5-1 Demons

Dubs

Caitlyn Casey/Caroline (RJR) over Hamrick/Whalen (SW) 9-8 (13-11)

Lanie Van Dorp/Heaven Dukes (SW) over Kate Quadland/Maggie Welsh (RJR) 8-2

Kelly Templeton/Makenzie Wray (RJR) over Bea Calwitan/Johaina Apolinario (SW) 8-3

Dubs 2-1 Demons

Demons over Cowgirls 7-2 in nonconference tennis action.

Demons move to 6-3 on the season and remain 2-0 in conference play.

Cowgirls drop to 8-3 on the season and remain 2-1 in conference play.

Cowgirls play host to the Smith in conference action on Monday