Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MIDDLEBURY - As the Warsaw Tiger girls tennis team makes a tournament run, the importance of players outside of the No. 1 singles and doubles spots increases.
The Tigers rode the continued improved play of No. 3 singles Jessica Sadler and the nearly unbeatable No. 2 doubles tandem of Gabby Schlitt and Alicia Swank to a 4-1 win over Fairfield in regional semifinal action at Northridge High School Tuesday night.
Sadler dispatched of the Falcons' Kristen Boyts in a shade over 40 minutes by the count of 6-0, 6-1.
Sadler has come on as of late and is playing her best tennis of the season. She has lost just four games in her past three matches.
"It's extremely important," said Warsaw coach Rick Orban of his team's success in No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles. "The further you go in the tournament the more important your No. 2 doubles and No. 3 singles are. The girls don't believe me but it's true. The further you go everybody has strong No.1 singles and doubles players. So you need to be able to win at other spots."
Fairfield's Stephanie Strong, who will be attending Huntington College this fall to play tennis, lived up to her surname with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Warsaw's No. 1 Ashley Harrison.
Harrison, a strong baseline player, was forced to overcome an early rough start where she made some unforced errors and Strong played flawless tennis.
Warsaw's No. 1 doubles team of Brandy Allen and Jill Harrison were tested in the first set but were the second match off the court with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Ashley Lockwood and Angie Warstler.
Both players controlled points when they served and out-worked Fairfield for hustle points.
The Falcons' Ali Wysong tested Warsaw's No. 2 singles Milagros Ridoutt before Ridoutt pulled out a 6-4, 6-2.
"Milie struggled today," said Orban. "But you're going to have that sometimes. And (Wysong) is a good player. It was the first time I've seen her and I was impressed."
Wysong was able to do what few facing Ridoutt have been able to - match Ridoutt's pace.
Ridoutt lacked a strong first serve at times but was also pushed by the fact that Wysong was able to handle Ridoutt's powerful forehand shots.
While Wysong nearly pulled off a first-set upset, Ridoutt returned to form in the second set. The Warsaw senior's tempo increased along with the speed of her shots, which was too much for Wysong to handle.
The most dependable thing for Orban this year has been the play of Schlitt and Swank. Things didn't change Tuesday as the dynamic duo had little trouble in upending Kyla Zartman and Brittany Herschberger.
Herschberger returned a shot by Warsaw long to end the match. And that was the story of the No. 2 doubles match. Fairfield was unable to deal with Warsaw's ferocious speed.
With the win, the Tigers move on to the regional championship this afternoon to take on Elkhart Central.
The Blue Blazers defeated an upstart DeKalb squad 3-2. Two of the five matches went three sets.
The two teams haven't faced each other this year but Orban knows he has a test in front of his team.
"My understanding is that they have a solid team from top to bottom. I think it's going to be a great match," said Orban.
Should the Tigers win; they face the winner of Culver Academy and Plymouth. Warsaw's only two dual match losses came to those squads.
"It's always nice to have a second chance," said Orban of what a rematch with either team would mean.
More importantly for this year's Tiger squad is making it to semistate.
"It means so much to this team," said Orban. "We graduated so much talent last year and all this team heard was, 'last year was the last time you'll see semistate', so since day one this team's goal was to get to semistate and through semistate."
The Tigers, 12-2 overall, face Elkhart Central today at 5 p.m. at Northridge High School.
WARSAW 4, FAIRFIELD 1
Singles
No. 1 - Stephanie Strong (F) def. Ashley Harrison 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 - Milagros Ridoutt (W) def. Ali Wysong 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 - Jessica Sadler (W) def. Kristen Boyts (F) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Brandy Allen/Jill Harrison (W) def. Ashley Lockwood/Angie Warstler 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 - Gabby Schlitt/Alicia Swank (W) def. Kyla Zartman/Brittany Herschberger 6-3, 6-1
