Warsaw Downs Plymouth 3-2

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer-

Going into Tuesday's tennis match against Plymouth, the Warsaw Tigers knew they had their work cut out for them. The Pilgrims defeated Warsaw handily last year, but the Tigers surprised Plymouth and avenged that loss with a 3-2 win.

"I am really proud of our effort tonight," said Warsaw coach Mike Baber. "Last year the team lost 5-0 or 4-1 to Plymouth, so this 3-2 win is big for the girls."

But the win was not a simple matter for the Tigers. The match went down to the wire as the final varsity contest determined which team was victorious.

Angie Suchecki and Tracey Yoder teamed up at the No. 2 doubles position to earn Warsaw's first point of the evening. The Warsaw pair defeated Plymouth's Cari Reed and Lindsay Houin 6-3, 6-2.

Kara Kesler and Liza Weidenbenner teamed up at the No. 1 doubles slot to get Warsaw's next victory. They defeated Plymouth's Liz Adams and Jenny Pettibone 6-2 in the first set, but the second set was not a cakewalk.

Kesler and Weidenbenner took an early 2-0 lead in the second set, but the Plymouth duo stayed with them and soon the score was 5-4. However, Kesler and Weidenbenner won the next point and the set 6-4.

"Our doubles teams played strong for us," said Baber. "It was a tough match, and they really came through tonight."

Although Warsaw seemed to be on a roll with two straight wins, the Tigers were not in the clear. Warsaw lost the next two matches, and the score was tied at 2-all.

At No. 1 singles, Abbie Simmons played a hard-fought match against Lynsey Hourigan. Simmons jumped out to an early 2-1 lead, but Hourigan fought back to win the set 7-6. In the second set, Hourigan established an early 3-0 lead and Simmons was unable to overcome the deicit. Hourigan won the second set 6-2.

"Having coached the No. 1 player from Plymouth, I knew Abbie had a tough match," said Baber.

Amber Barrett faced Plymouth's Sarah Easterday at the No. 2 singles spot. Easterday defeated Barrett 6-2 in the first set and 6-3 in the second set to get Plymouth's second point and tie the score at 2-2.

So it went down to the last contest, the No. 3 singles match between Warsaw's Lauren Witzky and Plymouth's Allie Shook. Shook took the first set 6-3, but Witzky made a comeback to win the second set 6-2.

In the third set, Witzky took a 3-0 advantage before Shook scored two to make the score 3-2. Witzky then won the next three to get a 6-2 win and secure Warsaw's team victory.

"Lauren was strong at No. 3 singles," said Baber. "This was a good match for the girls. Head to head, this is the best team we have played yet."

Warsaw is now 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in Northern Lakes Conference play.

WARSAW 3, PLYMOUTH 2

Singles

No. 1 -ÊLynsey Hourigan (P) def. Abbie Simmons 7-6, 6-2

No. 2 -ÊSarah Easterday (P) def. Amber Barrett 6-2, 6-3

No. 3 -ÊLauren Witzky (W) def. Allie Shook 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1 -ÊKara Kesler/Liza Weidenbenner (W) def. Liz Adams/Jenny Pettibone 6-2, 6-4

No. 2 -ÊAngie Suchecki/Tracy Yoder (W) def. Cari Reed/Lindsay Houin 6-3, 6-2

JV -ÊPLYMOUTH 4, WARSAW 1

Singles

No. 1 -ÊAbby Keiser (P) def. Lili Aguilar 7-6, 6-7, 7-5

No. 2 -ÊLynsey Gast (P) def. Abby Schori 8-6

No. 3 -ÊEmily Bunton (P) def. Nikki Albertson 8-3

Doubles

No. 1 -ÊJenny Fallstrom/Gretchen Heiden (P) def. Sara Hamman/Nicole Scrafton 6-7, 6-4, 6-1

No. 2 -ÊJaime Shirey/Katie Lee (W) def. Shannon Gerhke/Christy Chaney 8-6 [[In-content Ad]]

Going into Tuesday's tennis match against Plymouth, the Warsaw Tigers knew they had their work cut out for them. The Pilgrims defeated Warsaw handily last year, but the Tigers surprised Plymouth and avenged that loss with a 3-2 win.

"I am really proud of our effort tonight," said Warsaw coach Mike Baber. "Last year the team lost 5-0 or 4-1 to Plymouth, so this 3-2 win is big for the girls."

But the win was not a simple matter for the Tigers. The match went down to the wire as the final varsity contest determined which team was victorious.

Angie Suchecki and Tracey Yoder teamed up at the No. 2 doubles position to earn Warsaw's first point of the evening. The Warsaw pair defeated Plymouth's Cari Reed and Lindsay Houin 6-3, 6-2.

Kara Kesler and Liza Weidenbenner teamed up at the No. 1 doubles slot to get Warsaw's next victory. They defeated Plymouth's Liz Adams and Jenny Pettibone 6-2 in the first set, but the second set was not a cakewalk.

Kesler and Weidenbenner took an early 2-0 lead in the second set, but the Plymouth duo stayed with them and soon the score was 5-4. However, Kesler and Weidenbenner won the next point and the set 6-4.

"Our doubles teams played strong for us," said Baber. "It was a tough match, and they really came through tonight."

Although Warsaw seemed to be on a roll with two straight wins, the Tigers were not in the clear. Warsaw lost the next two matches, and the score was tied at 2-all.

At No. 1 singles, Abbie Simmons played a hard-fought match against Lynsey Hourigan. Simmons jumped out to an early 2-1 lead, but Hourigan fought back to win the set 7-6. In the second set, Hourigan established an early 3-0 lead and Simmons was unable to overcome the deicit. Hourigan won the second set 6-2.

"Having coached the No. 1 player from Plymouth, I knew Abbie had a tough match," said Baber.

Amber Barrett faced Plymouth's Sarah Easterday at the No. 2 singles spot. Easterday defeated Barrett 6-2 in the first set and 6-3 in the second set to get Plymouth's second point and tie the score at 2-2.

So it went down to the last contest, the No. 3 singles match between Warsaw's Lauren Witzky and Plymouth's Allie Shook. Shook took the first set 6-3, but Witzky made a comeback to win the second set 6-2.

In the third set, Witzky took a 3-0 advantage before Shook scored two to make the score 3-2. Witzky then won the next three to get a 6-2 win and secure Warsaw's team victory.

"Lauren was strong at No. 3 singles," said Baber. "This was a good match for the girls. Head to head, this is the best team we have played yet."

Warsaw is now 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in Northern Lakes Conference play.

WARSAW 3, PLYMOUTH 2

Singles

No. 1 -ÊLynsey Hourigan (P) def. Abbie Simmons 7-6, 6-2

No. 2 -ÊSarah Easterday (P) def. Amber Barrett 6-2, 6-3

No. 3 -ÊLauren Witzky (W) def. Allie Shook 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1 -ÊKara Kesler/Liza Weidenbenner (W) def. Liz Adams/Jenny Pettibone 6-2, 6-4

No. 2 -ÊAngie Suchecki/Tracy Yoder (W) def. Cari Reed/Lindsay Houin 6-3, 6-2

JV -ÊPLYMOUTH 4, WARSAW 1

Singles

No. 1 -ÊAbby Keiser (P) def. Lili Aguilar 7-6, 6-7, 7-5

No. 2 -ÊLynsey Gast (P) def. Abby Schori 8-6

No. 3 -ÊEmily Bunton (P) def. Nikki Albertson 8-3

Doubles

No. 1 -ÊJenny Fallstrom/Gretchen Heiden (P) def. Sara Hamman/Nicole Scrafton 6-7, 6-4, 6-1

No. 2 -ÊJaime Shirey/Katie Lee (W) def. Shannon Gerhke/Christy Chaney 8-6 [[In-content Ad]]

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