Aug 24, 2023

Cowgirls travel to Asheboro to take on the Lady Comets.  Win 7-2 in non-conference tennis action.

Asheboro invited the Cowgirls down to fill in unexpected hole in their schedule.  Beginning at 4, it was unclear if the match could even begin on time due to the heat of the day, but God smiled, the clouds covered, and the breeze begin in earnest.  It was good enough to bring us in acceptable range.

As a side note, it isn’t often that the ladies on any given court get to play an opponent similar in hitting to themselves.  Coach calls them hitting twins.  Aspects can be different, but their flow of play is very similar.  We had tonight, not only one, not just two, but three hitting twins on the court with us tonight.  OK, maybe just two and a half.

Anna found a similar hitter on court one.  To every hard shot Anna delivered, the Comet had an answer…much like Anna did to the Lady Hornet just yesterday at Western.  Anna would hit up and deep, so too for the lady Comet.  Anna would hit a drop shot, the lady Comet would answer with either a deeper hit or a beautiful cross court.  Still Anna held strong.  Five games, three of her serves, went to multiple deuces.  One break in her favor, but three the other way. It was a hard fought match, but one -where our Cowgirl came up short.  7-10.

Rachael also found a hitting twin.  Though her twin was back from a year ago and a bit more consistent.  Hence the ½ reference.  Higher and deeper than Rachael was accustomed to from the onset, the lady Comet kept the pressure up.  Rachael stroked the ball with top spin sending them back over, but not as effective as her lower shots from yesterday.  Feeling put out from the change in game play, she backed up a smidgen allowing to ball to fall into her zone.  Though now feeling the shots more and able to deliver more spin and power, her opponent kept pace with consistent returns over the net.  It was a game played in the heat.  It was a game of attrition.  Playing a pro-10, both these ladies held serve through 16 total games, 8 service games each.   And then, in a multiple deuce game, the Lady Comet broke Rachael.  Holding serve once more, the comet overcame the drive of the Cowgirl.  Though well played, to come that close…  The good news is we have a starting point for Friday’s practice.  8-10.

Church also found a similar hitter.  Though this time the Cowgirl was the more consistent one.  Heat still a factor as it was on courts 1 and 2 (but surprisingly, not on 4,5,and 6….just kidding.  It was hot everywhere) the Lady Comet did her best and never truly let Church gain her rhythm.  Scrappy play became the norm.  short, long, side to side, deep, high ones and low ones.  The shots on Court three ran the gamut of shots available to both them opponents.  Up as much as 3 breaks, Church struggled latter in the match as the lady Comet mounted a slight comeback.  Again, scrappy play ensued with the Comet clawing back two breaks before Church put a stop to it by breaking her one last time to take the match.  10-7.

If you are wondering about Evelyn.  She is fine after yesterday’s walk-off.  She will return to the line-up next week.  Coach didn’t want to stress her system in a match where the Cowgirls, even with Evelyn’s absence, had the advantage.

Asheboro has good players.  They simply drop off faster than the Cowgirls.  In accepting the play invitation, Coach knew what her was getting into.  Sitting Evelyn, Coach also sat Christman and Bella from the top six.  Jumping over a few more Cowgirls, Let’s welcome Evie Wesney and Riley Robinson back to the top 6 and Keri McFeely new to the top six.

Evie took a few games to work out the kinks and get the footwork started.  On serve through the first five games, Evie found her stride.  Hitting longer and not over hitting, Evie finishes 10-2 over the lady Comet.

Keri took a few more games to get her court legs.  Her opponent did a fine job with the deep and pace of her shots not allowing Keri to find a good rhythm with her strokes.  Back and forth as the service games went without much change in status, until near the 8^th game where Keri found and exploited a break in serve.  With this mental edge Keri was able to put more pressure on the Lady Comet until her victory, 10-5.

Riley also won tonight.  The rallies were longer than anticipated with neither of these ladies having a real advantage in the first 6 games.  This is a good thing.  This allows the ladies to find their respective games and try to influence each other as to their own style of play.  Riley, through consistent hitting and pushing the ball deeper still to her opponent, found her break over the Lady Comet.  4-3 Riley.  Exchange of service games and another break, 6-4…and the last 4 games fell into place for the Cowgirl.  Riley wins 10-4.

Cowgirls were up 4-2 over the Lady Comets in the race to 5 total wins.

Without Evelyn to balance Anna, and coach wanting to see Dee/Church against #1 dubs team, Dee/Church took court 1 dubs.  Bella paired with Anna on bubs court 2.  Christman paired with Bindu for court 3.

The rumblings of thunder could be heard encroaching, but it was still a good distance away all through dubs.

Court 1.  Finding their play within the first rotation of serves, Dee and Church hit with increased confidence, deeper and bigger than the two comets would muster back over.  The comets played a two back formation while the Cowgirls played one up, one back.  Though both have their strengths, two back really only works if you can return big or lob the heck out of the ball.  Only one of the Lady comets had that potential and the Cowgirls worked hard to push most every shot at the weaker player.  The strategy worked.  The Cowgirls shut down Comet’s #1 dubs 8-3.

Anna and Bella also had a good run.  Anna took charge of the net while Bella ran the baseline.  Save for a few good return short cross courts shots, the Cowgirls took away the combined strength of the Comet players.  The cowgirls were able to pounce on most lobs and out play their opponents with depth, angles and pace.  Hitting short lull after having been up 6-3, the Cowgirls caught their footing and finished the match 8-5.  Good fighting Comets!

Christman and Bindu also took a few games to find their rhythm.  On serve through the first 6 games, the Cowgirls found their break.  With neither of them hitting in singles, it takes a few games to get warmed up.  Bindu returned well while Christman was able to extend their advantage with a faster paced ball.  Both Cowgirls served well and finished the match 8-4.

Short of playing good tennis across the board, excellent news as all three doubles finished within 2 mins of each other just as the rain drops began the courts quickly became soaked.

Cowgirls remain 1-1 in conference play and equal up 3-3 overall.

Look to Monday’s news release as the Cowgirls host Northern Guilford at home.