September 21, 2017

Cowgirls hosted the Lady Warriors of Wheatmore in nonconference tennis action

Having played the Warriors the first week in scrimmage, I changed around the players a bit to see a new match ups and force the ladies to play a better game to win.  They did not disappoint.

Kyra at 1, Mai 2, Lanie up to 3, Gretchen 4, Lauren Cook 5, and Morgan McQuire at 6.

I saved Sam and Meghan for #1 dubs filling out the rest of the dubs line up with Johaina Apolinario/Bea Calwitan 2 and Alethea Yu/Maggie Mugi (Early College) for the final dubs spot at number 3.

Having beaten Meghan and Sam at 1 and 2 when we played the scrimmage a life tie ago at the beginning of the season, I wanted to test the Warrior’s mettle against my true 1/2, Kyra and Mai.

Mai, though fatigued from a challenging day at school, had little issue breaking the Warrior twice and ridding it home on serve, 10-5.

Morgan fought for most of her points with her opponent taking 6 games to deuce before McGuire extinguished the hope 10-2.

Lanie played strong throughout the match, but at 5-2 I challenged her to do more.  I asked Lanie to push herself either at the net or with zeal on shorter balls and hit them out the side of the court with sharp angles.  Points much shorter than before, Lanie finished off her opponent 10-2.

Lauren up 5-0, I requested that she also explore her game a bit more.  Though many points at or near deuce, Lauren help off the Warrior’s advances and finished the match 10-3.

Gretchen was challenged too, up 5-2, to do more – hit deeper, shorter, cross court, something to grow her game.  5-3.  5-4, 5-5, 6-5.  Having a sidebar with Coach, Gretchen professed her displeasure at the challenge and getting her mind off of her game.  Clearly not anger, just frustrated, Gretchen’s mind was focused once more and with better angles and depth than before, she pushed her opponent off of the courts with a 10-6 score.

Up 5-0, Kyra’s match was the only singles left playing.  On serve at 2-1, the Warrior and Cowgirl traded spars with each other.  Hard, soft, touch, commanding blows depicted much of the match while the ladies felt each other out.  Once more, the Warrior did not get the memo to roll over and give the match away.  The Ranch needs to look at their mail carrier system.

2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5…….

5-5, 5-6, 6-6, 6-7, 7-7, 7-8, 8-8, did I tell you we were going to 10?, 8-9, 9-9, 9-10

Understand I was minding my own business when an intense match just landed in my lap.

10-10

We were going to tiebreaker.

Both ladies beyond tired on a warm afternoon….battling not just each other but the sun too that as it began to set, shined brightly in the eyes of the ladies as they serve and hit towards the west.

0-1

0-2

0-3

1-3

1-4

2-4

2-5

3-5

3-6

4-6

4-7 – understand the ladies should have played a 12 point (first to 7 by two) tiebreaker.  Due to their lack of energy and their apparent inability to call out the score loud enough, I didn’t hear the score until 8-7….One of the mom’s assisted me with the point tallies up to this score.

9-7

9-8

10-8

Asking Kyra what had happened with the score, she explained the Lady Warrior was quite insistent about having to play to 10 and not 7.  Kyra simple acquiesced.   

Sweeping singles 6-0, we turned our attention to dubs.

Johaina/Bea was the lone winning highlight from dubs competition.  Having a good bead on the ball and opponent alike, they pressed their advantage and won 8-2.

Alethea/Maggie – new to each other and Maggie new to the squad this season, fought valiantly but eventually succumbed to a trifecta of better serves, shots, and depth.  Unable to hold the Warriors off for long, the Cowgirls posted 4 games in their favor before falling.

Sam and Meghan, seeded #1 tonight and will play as the #1 dubs team for Southwest come conference time, fought bravely, but the Warrior’s #1 team, state qualifier last year in dubs proved too much to the Cowgirls.  Breaking the Cowgirls at 2-2 to go up 2-3, they never looked back.  5 of the games went to deuce, but only one fell our way as the Warriors take the #1 dubs match.

Dubs 1-2 in favor of the Warriors.

Cowgirls win 7-2 and rise to 10-3 on the season and remain 3-1 in conference play.

Wheatmore drop to 5-2 on the season.

Cowgirls will host Mt Tabor on Monday.

Singles:

Kyra Akande (SW) over Hailey Mince (W) 11-10 (10-8)
Mai Vo (SW) over Skylar Craddock (W) 10-5

Lanie Van Dorp (SW) over Savannah Hicks (W) 10-2

Gretchen Cross (SW) over Kyndall Fritz (W) 10-6

Lauren Cook (SW) over Madison Kimball (W) 10-3

Morgan McGuire (SW) over Haley Carter (W) 10-2

Dubs:

Mince/Craddock (W) over Sam Hamrick/ Meghan Whalen (SW) 8-3

Johaina Apolinario/Bea Calwitan (SW) over Fritz/Kimball (W) 8-2

Carter/Summer Wise (W) over Alethea Yu/Maggie Mugi (W) 8-4

Final match score – 7-2 Cowgirls.