Northridge Edges Warsaw At Tennis Regional
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Playing the host Northridge Lady Raiders (13-2) in a regional semifinal in Middlebury Tuesday, the Warsaw Lady Tigers (11-3) fell 3-2, but did move its No. 1 singles player and No. 2 doubles team in the individual tournament.[[In-content Ad]]"I'm really proud of the team, and extremely pleased with Alli (Tucker) at 1 singles," said Warsaw coach Rick Orban.
At No. 1 singles, Tucker exorcised some demons, defeating Northridge's Kristin Zakiewicz for the first time in her career.
Earlier this season, Tucker fell 6-3, 6-1 to Zakiewicz in Warsaw's 3-2 team win April 21 in Middlebury, then 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 1 singles championship match of the NLC tournament May 15 at Concord.
This time, Tucker lost the opening set 7-6, but fought back to take the second 6-1, and then swept through the third set 6-0.
"We just talked about attitude," Orban said about his advice following the first-set loss. "We had a little strategy going into it. We were able to watch the last time they played and then again (in the first set). She stuck to the plan and she won."
While Tucker was sticking to the plan, Zakiewicz was straying away from hers.
"It got away from Kristin, and Alli's a pusher and she's a great player," said Northridge coach Angie Brenneman. "We knew if it got away from her, it would be hard to bring it back in this heat when you don't have legs."
The 90-degree temperatures did drop as the night went on, but senior Lauren Sciarra and junior Carlye Bishopp didn't need much time to do away with their opponents at No. 1 doubles.
Breezing to a 6-0, 6-2 victory, the girls advanced in the individual tournament, which gets under way today back at Northridge.
"Wow - they're good," Orban said about Sciarra and Bishopp. "They just dominate."
Because they won as No. 1 players, Tucker faces NorthWood's Melissa Ramer today, while Sciarra and Bishopp square off with Rachel VanGessel and Paige Lundquist. Both matches begin at 5 p.m.
Those three girls found a way to continue their seasons, but the rest of the Tigers saw their campaigns come to an end.
According to both coaches, the No. 2 doubles court was actually the most important of the night, as Northridge's Amy Stoffel and Olivia Erekson won 6-1, 6-3 over Kandi Kesler and Liesl Schroedl.
"Two doubles was a tough one," Orban said. "I had to play Liesl, because of an injury (to Nichole Herendeen). She's young and played junior varsity for most of the year. This is a tough spot to be in, at regionals."
With close matches expected at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, and Warsaw favored at No. 1 doubles, Brenneman was also focused on the No. 2 doubles match.
"I knew what happened there would make all the difference," she said.
At No. 2 singles, Warsaw junior Sarah Hartle had already defeated Northridge's Alexis Schmidt twice this season (6-4, 6-2 and 6-7, 6-4, 6-0). However, just like at No. 1 singles, defeating an opponent three times in one season can be tough to do.
"That's the joy of tennis and that's the joy of competition," Brenneman said. "I have to say that's my quote for the night. That's what happens in tennis and high school tennis. I tell the girls every night, 'Anybody. Anybody can lose.' And that means anybody can win."
After losing the opening set 6-4 and falling behind 5-2 in the second, Hartle fought back to force a tiebreaker. But just as she had fought back, Hartle lost the tiebreaker 7-3, losing the match 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
"She didn't play her best tennis tonight, and she knows that," Orban said. "It's a learning tool for her next year. You have to focus in on every point and can't give a game away here and a game there. It will come back to bite you."
With the win, Northridge moves on to face Fairfield today at 5 p.m. Fairfield (15-1) advanced to the regional finals by defeating Westview (10-4) 5-0 Tuesday.
NORTHRIDGE 3, WARSAW 2
(Northridge Regional, Semifinals)
SINGLES: No. 1 - Alli Tucker (W) def. Kristin Zakiewicz 6-7, 6-1, 6-0; No. 2 - Alexis Schmidt (N) def. Sarah Hartle 6-4, 7-6 (7-3); No. 3 - Sarah Smith (N) def. Elise Smith 6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES: No. 1 - Carlye Bishopp/Lauren Sciarra (W) def. Ella Wynn/Ali Bullock 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 - Amy Stoffel/Olivia Erekson (N) def. Kandi Kesler/Liesl Schroedl 6-1, 6-3
Records - Northridge 13-2, Warsaw 11-3
Playing the host Northridge Lady Raiders (13-2) in a regional semifinal in Middlebury Tuesday, the Warsaw Lady Tigers (11-3) fell 3-2, but did move its No. 1 singles player and No. 2 doubles team in the individual tournament.[[In-content Ad]]"I'm really proud of the team, and extremely pleased with Alli (Tucker) at 1 singles," said Warsaw coach Rick Orban.
At No. 1 singles, Tucker exorcised some demons, defeating Northridge's Kristin Zakiewicz for the first time in her career.
Earlier this season, Tucker fell 6-3, 6-1 to Zakiewicz in Warsaw's 3-2 team win April 21 in Middlebury, then 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 1 singles championship match of the NLC tournament May 15 at Concord.
This time, Tucker lost the opening set 7-6, but fought back to take the second 6-1, and then swept through the third set 6-0.
"We just talked about attitude," Orban said about his advice following the first-set loss. "We had a little strategy going into it. We were able to watch the last time they played and then again (in the first set). She stuck to the plan and she won."
While Tucker was sticking to the plan, Zakiewicz was straying away from hers.
"It got away from Kristin, and Alli's a pusher and she's a great player," said Northridge coach Angie Brenneman. "We knew if it got away from her, it would be hard to bring it back in this heat when you don't have legs."
The 90-degree temperatures did drop as the night went on, but senior Lauren Sciarra and junior Carlye Bishopp didn't need much time to do away with their opponents at No. 1 doubles.
Breezing to a 6-0, 6-2 victory, the girls advanced in the individual tournament, which gets under way today back at Northridge.
"Wow - they're good," Orban said about Sciarra and Bishopp. "They just dominate."
Because they won as No. 1 players, Tucker faces NorthWood's Melissa Ramer today, while Sciarra and Bishopp square off with Rachel VanGessel and Paige Lundquist. Both matches begin at 5 p.m.
Those three girls found a way to continue their seasons, but the rest of the Tigers saw their campaigns come to an end.
According to both coaches, the No. 2 doubles court was actually the most important of the night, as Northridge's Amy Stoffel and Olivia Erekson won 6-1, 6-3 over Kandi Kesler and Liesl Schroedl.
"Two doubles was a tough one," Orban said. "I had to play Liesl, because of an injury (to Nichole Herendeen). She's young and played junior varsity for most of the year. This is a tough spot to be in, at regionals."
With close matches expected at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, and Warsaw favored at No. 1 doubles, Brenneman was also focused on the No. 2 doubles match.
"I knew what happened there would make all the difference," she said.
At No. 2 singles, Warsaw junior Sarah Hartle had already defeated Northridge's Alexis Schmidt twice this season (6-4, 6-2 and 6-7, 6-4, 6-0). However, just like at No. 1 singles, defeating an opponent three times in one season can be tough to do.
"That's the joy of tennis and that's the joy of competition," Brenneman said. "I have to say that's my quote for the night. That's what happens in tennis and high school tennis. I tell the girls every night, 'Anybody. Anybody can lose.' And that means anybody can win."
After losing the opening set 6-4 and falling behind 5-2 in the second, Hartle fought back to force a tiebreaker. But just as she had fought back, Hartle lost the tiebreaker 7-3, losing the match 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
"She didn't play her best tennis tonight, and she knows that," Orban said. "It's a learning tool for her next year. You have to focus in on every point and can't give a game away here and a game there. It will come back to bite you."
With the win, Northridge moves on to face Fairfield today at 5 p.m. Fairfield (15-1) advanced to the regional finals by defeating Westview (10-4) 5-0 Tuesday.
NORTHRIDGE 3, WARSAW 2
(Northridge Regional, Semifinals)
SINGLES: No. 1 - Alli Tucker (W) def. Kristin Zakiewicz 6-7, 6-1, 6-0; No. 2 - Alexis Schmidt (N) def. Sarah Hartle 6-4, 7-6 (7-3); No. 3 - Sarah Smith (N) def. Elise Smith 6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES: No. 1 - Carlye Bishopp/Lauren Sciarra (W) def. Ella Wynn/Ali Bullock 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 - Amy Stoffel/Olivia Erekson (N) def. Kandi Kesler/Liesl Schroedl 6-1, 6-3
Records - Northridge 13-2, Warsaw 11-3
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