Lady Tigers Win NLC Opener
April 18, 2018 at 4:06 p.m.
Lady Tigers Win NLC Opener
By Dale [email protected]
Zellers, who last year as a freshman gave Warsaw its third team point against Plymouth in a 3-2 regional final victory, scored the decisive win at No. 3 singles when she beat Miranda German 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Not only did Zellers have to fight off German, but also a cramping issue.
Warsaw’s resilient sophomore went down early in the third set, laying on the playing surface at the Warsaw Tennis and Fitness Center, but came roaring back and gave her coaches, teammates and the Lady Tigers’ fans something to cheer about.
Tuesday’s match was the third time Warsaw and Plymouth have faced off in the last year, and all three times the final score was 3-2.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since we’ve won the first match of the season against Plymouth,” said Warsaw coach Rick Orban, whose team improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the NLC, while Plymouth fell to 4-2 and 0-1.
“We’ve come back and beat them in the regionals, but it’s been a long time since we’ve been 1-0 in the conference, and it was in doubt tonight.
“Liza took care of business at No. 1 singles. Ella took care of business at No. 2 singles. Alyssa, I think she got nervous, it’s as simple as that. She was pretty dominant in the first set and then got a little nervous. When you get nervous in tennis you’re arms don’t extend, you can’t swing through, and then she had the cramp, which has been an ongoing problem. We’ll take care of that like we did last year, she’ll hydrate a little better before her matches.”
A conference match that was moved indoors because of the cold weather, the Lady Tigers scored the first two team points quickly and in dominating fashion.
Senior Liza Lewis beat Plymouth’s Cortini Cook 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, the first match to finish.
Warsaw senior Ella Knight finished shortly thereafter, beating Kyla Heckaman 6-0, 6-0.
Plymouth then scored a team point with a win at No. 1 doubles, as McKenzie Scheetz and Leah Smith beat Warsaw’s Rachel Boyle and Amy Herendeen 6-1, 6-2.
Zellers followed Plymouth’s No. 1 doubles win with the Lady Tigers’ third team point.
The Lady Pilgrims’ Mary Beatty and Audie Plothow beat Reagan Merchant and Taylor Shoaf 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles to account for the final team score.
“We’ve had a lot of 3-2 scores the last two or three years with them,” said Plymouth coach Brad Haeck. “Seems like it’s been the same Warsaw group for four years.
“They definitely have a lot more experience than we do at No. 1 and 2 singles, and really even at No. 3 singles. We have more experience at least at No. 1 doubles, for sure.
“We’ve got a freshman at No. 3 singles, and she competed really well, especially for a freshman, for 95 percent of the match. She stayed mentally focused for 95 percent of the match, but in that third set you have to find a way to put somebody away. Unfortunately we were unable to do that, and we kind of let them off the hook. Alyssa (Zellers) is a good player, and anytime you kind of give her a second chance she’s going to keep fighting, and she came back with a win for them.”
Tuesday’s match was a great start to a busy stretch for the Lady Tigers, who play at Northridge today and then host Fairfield and Fort Wayne Concordia Thursday and Friday, respectively.
The schedule is just as busy for Warsaw next week, with matches at Carroll and Elkhart Memorial on Monday and Tuesday, a home match with Wawasee on April 26, and then the Delta Invitational on April 28.
“I’m pretty pleased with everything, and I’m extremely happy to be 1-0 in the conference,” said Orban.
WARSAW 3, PLYMOUTH 2
Singles: No. 1 – Liza Lewis (W) def. Cortini Cook 6-1, 6-0; No. 2 – Ella Knight (W) def. Kyla Heckaman 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 – Alyssa Zellers (W) def. Miranda German 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles: No. 1 – McKenzie Scheetz & Leah Smith (P) def. Rachel Boyle & Herendeen 6-1, 6-2; No. 2 – Mary Beatty & Audie Plothow (P) def. Reagan Merchant & Taylor Shoaf 6-4, 6-4
Records: Warsaw 2-1 (1-0 NLC), Plymouth 4-2 (0-1 NLC)
Zellers, who last year as a freshman gave Warsaw its third team point against Plymouth in a 3-2 regional final victory, scored the decisive win at No. 3 singles when she beat Miranda German 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Not only did Zellers have to fight off German, but also a cramping issue.
Warsaw’s resilient sophomore went down early in the third set, laying on the playing surface at the Warsaw Tennis and Fitness Center, but came roaring back and gave her coaches, teammates and the Lady Tigers’ fans something to cheer about.
Tuesday’s match was the third time Warsaw and Plymouth have faced off in the last year, and all three times the final score was 3-2.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since we’ve won the first match of the season against Plymouth,” said Warsaw coach Rick Orban, whose team improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the NLC, while Plymouth fell to 4-2 and 0-1.
“We’ve come back and beat them in the regionals, but it’s been a long time since we’ve been 1-0 in the conference, and it was in doubt tonight.
“Liza took care of business at No. 1 singles. Ella took care of business at No. 2 singles. Alyssa, I think she got nervous, it’s as simple as that. She was pretty dominant in the first set and then got a little nervous. When you get nervous in tennis you’re arms don’t extend, you can’t swing through, and then she had the cramp, which has been an ongoing problem. We’ll take care of that like we did last year, she’ll hydrate a little better before her matches.”
A conference match that was moved indoors because of the cold weather, the Lady Tigers scored the first two team points quickly and in dominating fashion.
Senior Liza Lewis beat Plymouth’s Cortini Cook 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, the first match to finish.
Warsaw senior Ella Knight finished shortly thereafter, beating Kyla Heckaman 6-0, 6-0.
Plymouth then scored a team point with a win at No. 1 doubles, as McKenzie Scheetz and Leah Smith beat Warsaw’s Rachel Boyle and Amy Herendeen 6-1, 6-2.
Zellers followed Plymouth’s No. 1 doubles win with the Lady Tigers’ third team point.
The Lady Pilgrims’ Mary Beatty and Audie Plothow beat Reagan Merchant and Taylor Shoaf 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles to account for the final team score.
“We’ve had a lot of 3-2 scores the last two or three years with them,” said Plymouth coach Brad Haeck. “Seems like it’s been the same Warsaw group for four years.
“They definitely have a lot more experience than we do at No. 1 and 2 singles, and really even at No. 3 singles. We have more experience at least at No. 1 doubles, for sure.
“We’ve got a freshman at No. 3 singles, and she competed really well, especially for a freshman, for 95 percent of the match. She stayed mentally focused for 95 percent of the match, but in that third set you have to find a way to put somebody away. Unfortunately we were unable to do that, and we kind of let them off the hook. Alyssa (Zellers) is a good player, and anytime you kind of give her a second chance she’s going to keep fighting, and she came back with a win for them.”
Tuesday’s match was a great start to a busy stretch for the Lady Tigers, who play at Northridge today and then host Fairfield and Fort Wayne Concordia Thursday and Friday, respectively.
The schedule is just as busy for Warsaw next week, with matches at Carroll and Elkhart Memorial on Monday and Tuesday, a home match with Wawasee on April 26, and then the Delta Invitational on April 28.
“I’m pretty pleased with everything, and I’m extremely happy to be 1-0 in the conference,” said Orban.
WARSAW 3, PLYMOUTH 2
Singles: No. 1 – Liza Lewis (W) def. Cortini Cook 6-1, 6-0; No. 2 – Ella Knight (W) def. Kyla Heckaman 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 – Alyssa Zellers (W) def. Miranda German 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles: No. 1 – McKenzie Scheetz & Leah Smith (P) def. Rachel Boyle & Herendeen 6-1, 6-2; No. 2 – Mary Beatty & Audie Plothow (P) def. Reagan Merchant & Taylor Shoaf 6-4, 6-4
Records: Warsaw 2-1 (1-0 NLC), Plymouth 4-2 (0-1 NLC)
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