Warsaw Netters Bounce Back With Win
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Mark [email protected]
The Lady Tigers came through with a 3-2 win that evened their NLC record at 1-1 and kept their hopes for a regular-season conference title alive.
Collette Smith dropped three games in her straight-set win over Lady Raider Chase Kieper at No. 2 singles, and Ella Knight lost just one game per set in her win at No. 3 singles.
Hannah Rice and Athena Schlitt wrapped up the win for the Lady Tigers with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Taylor Sellers and MacKenzie Kauffman.
Warsaw’s two losses were not without a fight; Liza Lewis fell 6-4, 6-4 to Northridge’s Kylie Frauhiger at No. 1 singles, and the No. 2 doubles combo of Grace Miller and Chelsey Farling pushed their opponents to a first-set tiebreaker before falling.
The difference 24 hours can make was evident to Warsaw head coach Rick Orban, who cited several differences in his squad’s play between Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The fact that we moved; that we got to shots, we weren’t reaching for shots. we played a lot smarter tennis tonight,” he said. “We sorta looked like the team I was hoping would show up (Tuesday) night. But, on the other hand, Plymouth is a solid team.”
Orban said after Tuesday’s loss, he had a short discussion with his team, reminding them that another NLC loss would likely put an end to any hopes for a regular-season conference title.
“Basically, I challenged them. I told them ‘either you have to do it tonight or you’re going to be in a little bit of trouble going down the road,’” he said.
“I think they took it seriously; Liza Lewis did much better, No. 1 doubles played a lot better. Two singles played really well, and three singles looked really good tonight. So basically, I’m pretty happy with their performance tonight. I would have liked to pick up a couple of more points, but it’s good to bounce back from (Tuesday) night.
“If we went 0-2, it’d be really tough to come back to win the conference; this we can bounce back from, so this was a big match for us.”
Orban said his team’s performance at Plymouth should be, and has been up to this point of the season, the exception rather than the rule. He noted the Lady Pilgrims have a solid team that should compete for the NLC title, but felt that the Lady Tigers bounced back from their low point of the season to win Wednesday.
“The play, up until (Tuesday) night, was what I was expecting,” said Orban. “I know we’re going to get better and better as the season goes on. Confidence is a huge factor, so hopefully tonight goes a long way for them.”
Warsaw takes a break from NLC play to host Fairfield today, then Fort Wayne Concordia on Friday.
WARSAW 3, NORTHRIDGE 2
Singles: No. 1 – Kylie Frauhiger (NR) def. Liza Lewis (W) 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 – Colette Smith (W) def. Chase Kieper (NR) 6-1, 6-2; No. 3 – Ella Knight (W) def. Vanessa Raber (NR) 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles: No. 1 – Hannah Rice/Athena Schlitt (W) def. Taylor Sellers/MacKenzie Kauffman (NR) 6-2, 6-3; No. 2 – Jordan Kauffman & Victoria Oakes (NR) def. Grace Miller & Chelsey Farling (W) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
JV: Warsaw 6, Northridge 1
Singles: No. 1 – Kylee Bontrager (NR) def. Rachel Boyle (W) 6-0, 6-1; No. 2 – Libby Jenkins (W) def. Alysha Homewood (NR) 8-0; No. 3 – Sophia Parke (W) def. Madison Shepherd (NR) 8-2.
Doubles: No. 1 – Amy Herendeen/Jen Katris (W) def. Nia Alailima/Sarah Hartman (NR) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5; No. 2 – Maddie Ray/Izzy Ray (W) def. Dominique Bate/Carlee Schroader (NR) 8-6; No. 3 – Jasmine Baker/Regan Merchant (W) def. Ann Grande/Leah Tackett (NR) 8-0; No. 4 – Sophia Schlitt/Rachel Yeager (W) def. Katie Camacho/Chloe Thompson (NR) 8-0.[[In-content Ad]]
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The Lady Tigers came through with a 3-2 win that evened their NLC record at 1-1 and kept their hopes for a regular-season conference title alive.
Collette Smith dropped three games in her straight-set win over Lady Raider Chase Kieper at No. 2 singles, and Ella Knight lost just one game per set in her win at No. 3 singles.
Hannah Rice and Athena Schlitt wrapped up the win for the Lady Tigers with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Taylor Sellers and MacKenzie Kauffman.
Warsaw’s two losses were not without a fight; Liza Lewis fell 6-4, 6-4 to Northridge’s Kylie Frauhiger at No. 1 singles, and the No. 2 doubles combo of Grace Miller and Chelsey Farling pushed their opponents to a first-set tiebreaker before falling.
The difference 24 hours can make was evident to Warsaw head coach Rick Orban, who cited several differences in his squad’s play between Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The fact that we moved; that we got to shots, we weren’t reaching for shots. we played a lot smarter tennis tonight,” he said. “We sorta looked like the team I was hoping would show up (Tuesday) night. But, on the other hand, Plymouth is a solid team.”
Orban said after Tuesday’s loss, he had a short discussion with his team, reminding them that another NLC loss would likely put an end to any hopes for a regular-season conference title.
“Basically, I challenged them. I told them ‘either you have to do it tonight or you’re going to be in a little bit of trouble going down the road,’” he said.
“I think they took it seriously; Liza Lewis did much better, No. 1 doubles played a lot better. Two singles played really well, and three singles looked really good tonight. So basically, I’m pretty happy with their performance tonight. I would have liked to pick up a couple of more points, but it’s good to bounce back from (Tuesday) night.
“If we went 0-2, it’d be really tough to come back to win the conference; this we can bounce back from, so this was a big match for us.”
Orban said his team’s performance at Plymouth should be, and has been up to this point of the season, the exception rather than the rule. He noted the Lady Pilgrims have a solid team that should compete for the NLC title, but felt that the Lady Tigers bounced back from their low point of the season to win Wednesday.
“The play, up until (Tuesday) night, was what I was expecting,” said Orban. “I know we’re going to get better and better as the season goes on. Confidence is a huge factor, so hopefully tonight goes a long way for them.”
Warsaw takes a break from NLC play to host Fairfield today, then Fort Wayne Concordia on Friday.
WARSAW 3, NORTHRIDGE 2
Singles: No. 1 – Kylie Frauhiger (NR) def. Liza Lewis (W) 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 – Colette Smith (W) def. Chase Kieper (NR) 6-1, 6-2; No. 3 – Ella Knight (W) def. Vanessa Raber (NR) 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles: No. 1 – Hannah Rice/Athena Schlitt (W) def. Taylor Sellers/MacKenzie Kauffman (NR) 6-2, 6-3; No. 2 – Jordan Kauffman & Victoria Oakes (NR) def. Grace Miller & Chelsey Farling (W) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
JV: Warsaw 6, Northridge 1
Singles: No. 1 – Kylee Bontrager (NR) def. Rachel Boyle (W) 6-0, 6-1; No. 2 – Libby Jenkins (W) def. Alysha Homewood (NR) 8-0; No. 3 – Sophia Parke (W) def. Madison Shepherd (NR) 8-2.
Doubles: No. 1 – Amy Herendeen/Jen Katris (W) def. Nia Alailima/Sarah Hartman (NR) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5; No. 2 – Maddie Ray/Izzy Ray (W) def. Dominique Bate/Carlee Schroader (NR) 8-6; No. 3 – Jasmine Baker/Regan Merchant (W) def. Ann Grande/Leah Tackett (NR) 8-0; No. 4 – Sophia Schlitt/Rachel Yeager (W) def. Katie Camacho/Chloe Thompson (NR) 8-0.[[In-content Ad]]
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