We had high hopes of advancing this year in the playoffs, but it wasn't to be as the Lancaster Bruins played a strong match from top to bottom and handed us a 5-1 defeat. The loss eliminates us from the state AAAA playoffs and leaves us with a final overall record of 6-8 on the season.
Chandler Green played really well against Hegler for the Bruins. Hegler has an aggressive game that was a little overpowering for Chandler tonight. The score may have been a little lopsided, but I was proud of Chandler for giving Hegler a run for her money. Chandler has the potential to beat these types of players with some off season work on her serving and forward and backward speed.
Maggie Orr put the first set of her match at 2 tonight into a tiebreaker before coming up on the short end against Gardner. The second set was tight as well as the Bruins claimed it 6-4. There was little that seperated these two tonight other than maybe just the one year of experience for Gardner who is a junior. I am hopeful that Maggie plays competitively in the off season to gain the experience and confidence that it takes to overcome this type of opponent. She has the heart and the talent as we all can see, but she still needs to put the work in and play competitive matches.
Betsy Creech had a rough go at it tonight at 3 singles. Hicks of Lancaster is a much improved player over the past year and has committed herself to improving her game. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Hicks is the #2 player at Lancaster next season. Betsy also needs a little more experience and confidence to compete with this type of player next year. Hicks is no faster in a footrace than Betsy, but her reaction time puts her a step ahead on each shot. If Betsy can force herself to anticipate better, she can play with anyone around town.
Courtney Cox had a tough first set when her opponent, Blanton of Lancaster, just couldn't miss. At the same time that Blanton was hot, Courtney had trouble making good contact and sustaining rallies. She really started clicking early in the second and went up 5-3 to have me start thinking about a tiebreak strategy. Unfortunately, Blanton picked herself back up to claim the second set with four straight games. It was another case of experience overcoming the Trojan singles players tonight. I look forward to Courtney becoming competitive in the off season so she is able to finish out sets like she could have tonight and put herself in a position for success.
Lauren Cox has come a long way in the past year, from a player that was 13th in the ladder last year to a dependable #5 this year. She was defeated by Gilreath of the Bruins squad at 5 singles 6-1, 6-2 tonight. Gilreath is another player that plays year round tennis and competes in the local USTA tournaments. Lauren can no doubtedly compete with Gilreath if she continues to work as hard over the next 10 months as she has the last 12. Lauren has the competitiveness in her to rise to a very high level.
What a great night it was for our senior captains Hillary Tindall & MC Faulkner
. I pulled the trigger a little earlier than I had anticipated when I saw how behind we had fallen in the singles matches. The senior Trojans claimed our lone line win for us tonight by score of 6-4, 1-6, 10-6. They played a team that clearly had a stronger player and they wisely decided to attack the lesser of the two. I have spent two seasons with Hillary and I certainly will miss her next year. She has been a tremendous role model to the younger players which was the biggest asset this team had this year. MC played just this season for us and rose through the ladder from as low as #11 up to #7 where she ended her career. I have said it many times and she's probably tired of hearing me say it, but...why didn't you pick up a racquet a few years ago MC? You will also be truly missed by us and I am thankful for the small amount of time I was blessed with to work with you.
I told the girls on the bus ride home that this has been the most enjoyable season for me as a coach. I probably won't remember this group as having a 6-8 record and finishing 4th in the region. I will forever remember the hard work that they put in from day one to make themselves better.
And that doesn't end with just these varsity players. Erin Brooks & Emily Edwards were out at the courts nearly every day this summer & they rocketed to near the top of the ladder. The Cramer girls have come light years from where they were when they started playing last year. I see them and think about what Natalie could become if she keeps working hard. Caroline Herron, one of our youngest players, shot up through the ladder this year further than I would have thought possible when you look at the ages of the players she passed up. Alexis worked super hard every practice and is someone that could really make a difference next year as a player and leader. One of my favorite parts of practice was to see Randi & Karlee in warm up jogs competing with each other to finish first. Both of their athletic abillity is great, but their willingness to work is what will make each of them a success.
So many memories you young ladies gave me & for that I will forever be thankful...Coach
Box Score:
Location: Lancaster
Result: Lancaster 5, Northwestern 1
1s: Lyndsey Hegler (L) def Chandler Green 6-2, 6-1
2s: Morgan Gardner (L) def Maggie Orr 7-6, 6-4
3s: Sara Hicks (L) def Betsy Creech 6-1, 6-0
4s: McKenzie Blanton (L) def Courtney Cox 6-0, 7-5
5s: Sarah Gilreath (L) def Lauren Cox 6-1, 6-2
Chandler Green played really well against Hegler for the Bruins. Hegler has an aggressive game that was a little overpowering for Chandler tonight. The score may have been a little lopsided, but I was proud of Chandler for giving Hegler a run for her money. Chandler has the potential to beat these types of players with some off season work on her serving and forward and backward speed.
Maggie Orr put the first set of her match at 2 tonight into a tiebreaker before coming up on the short end against Gardner. The second set was tight as well as the Bruins claimed it 6-4. There was little that seperated these two tonight other than maybe just the one year of experience for Gardner who is a junior. I am hopeful that Maggie plays competitively in the off season to gain the experience and confidence that it takes to overcome this type of opponent. She has the heart and the talent as we all can see, but she still needs to put the work in and play competitive matches.
Betsy Creech had a rough go at it tonight at 3 singles. Hicks of Lancaster is a much improved player over the past year and has committed herself to improving her game. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Hicks is the #2 player at Lancaster next season. Betsy also needs a little more experience and confidence to compete with this type of player next year. Hicks is no faster in a footrace than Betsy, but her reaction time puts her a step ahead on each shot. If Betsy can force herself to anticipate better, she can play with anyone around town.
Courtney Cox had a tough first set when her opponent, Blanton of Lancaster, just couldn't miss. At the same time that Blanton was hot, Courtney had trouble making good contact and sustaining rallies. She really started clicking early in the second and went up 5-3 to have me start thinking about a tiebreak strategy. Unfortunately, Blanton picked herself back up to claim the second set with four straight games. It was another case of experience overcoming the Trojan singles players tonight. I look forward to Courtney becoming competitive in the off season so she is able to finish out sets like she could have tonight and put herself in a position for success.
Lauren Cox has come a long way in the past year, from a player that was 13th in the ladder last year to a dependable #5 this year. She was defeated by Gilreath of the Bruins squad at 5 singles 6-1, 6-2 tonight. Gilreath is another player that plays year round tennis and competes in the local USTA tournaments. Lauren can no doubtedly compete with Gilreath if she continues to work as hard over the next 10 months as she has the last 12. Lauren has the competitiveness in her to rise to a very high level.
What a great night it was for our senior captains Hillary Tindall & MC Faulkner
. I pulled the trigger a little earlier than I had anticipated when I saw how behind we had fallen in the singles matches. The senior Trojans claimed our lone line win for us tonight by score of 6-4, 1-6, 10-6. They played a team that clearly had a stronger player and they wisely decided to attack the lesser of the two. I have spent two seasons with Hillary and I certainly will miss her next year. She has been a tremendous role model to the younger players which was the biggest asset this team had this year. MC played just this season for us and rose through the ladder from as low as #11 up to #7 where she ended her career. I have said it many times and she's probably tired of hearing me say it, but...why didn't you pick up a racquet a few years ago MC? You will also be truly missed by us and I am thankful for the small amount of time I was blessed with to work with you.I told the girls on the bus ride home that this has been the most enjoyable season for me as a coach. I probably won't remember this group as having a 6-8 record and finishing 4th in the region. I will forever remember the hard work that they put in from day one to make themselves better.
And that doesn't end with just these varsity players. Erin Brooks & Emily Edwards were out at the courts nearly every day this summer & they rocketed to near the top of the ladder. The Cramer girls have come light years from where they were when they started playing last year. I see them and think about what Natalie could become if she keeps working hard. Caroline Herron, one of our youngest players, shot up through the ladder this year further than I would have thought possible when you look at the ages of the players she passed up. Alexis worked super hard every practice and is someone that could really make a difference next year as a player and leader. One of my favorite parts of practice was to see Randi & Karlee in warm up jogs competing with each other to finish first. Both of their athletic abillity is great, but their willingness to work is what will make each of them a success.
So many memories you young ladies gave me & for that I will forever be thankful...Coach
Box Score:
Location: Lancaster
Result: Lancaster 5, Northwestern 1
1s: Lyndsey Hegler (L) def Chandler Green 6-2, 6-1
2s: Morgan Gardner (L) def Maggie Orr 7-6, 6-4
3s: Sara Hicks (L) def Betsy Creech 6-1, 6-0
4s: McKenzie Blanton (L) def Courtney Cox 6-0, 7-5
5s: Sarah Gilreath (L) def Lauren Cox 6-1, 6-2
2d: Hillary Tindall/MC Faulkner (N) def Carley Adams/Katherine Lalla 6-4, 1-6, 10-6
