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Varsity
Senior night! If you haven't read already, check out the things that I shared about each of our amazing seniors...
- Austin Shenk
These five have been the cornerstone of this year's team, many of them setting the pace in the offseason for the success we're experiencing now. And we are experiencing a lot of success lately. After falling in our first 5 matches, we are 5-2 in our last seven matches. And the two losses there have been to state ranked teams!
Tonight was not a loss, but it didn't quite get to be a full victory. That's because the weather was not at all helpful. If not for our celebration of the seniors, the weather would have stolen the whole story. It rained about 45 minutes before the match was to start, but then thankfully dried in just a couple minutes. Then we began play and got through most of the first sets, before rain came again for five minutes. We had barely reported scores before we went back on, but this time we got poured on. The courts were wet, but we thought we could get them dry. Before we even got one court finished, it poured again. The match was over.
But in the match, our guys continued bringing some of their best tennis. Against a Blackhawk team with 10 freshmen (!) our team came out very focused. Matthew and Austin started by claiming Austin and Matthew's service game before getting a big break. One of the #1D's for Blackhawk had a big serve, so he was going to be tough to break. So Austin and Matthew were really under pressure to hold their serve. All throughout the first set they were able to hold, and then break the opponent with the weaker serve. They had solid momentum against this team, a Blackhawk position they have not often lost throughout the year. Austin and Matthew won the first set before the rains came.
Our other varsity senior didn't quite get to finish off a set. Jacob and Breece got a hot start at #2D, leading 3-0. But their opponents were very athletic, and really made Jacob and Breece hit good shots and finish points. Unfortunately, this led to a couple of errors from our team, but we were able to stay ahead, if only by a game. Breece again led the line with his serve, and really volleyed well again. Jacob was having a nice volleying day as well, able to finish off some points by closing off the net. They led 5-4 and 40-15 when the rains came for the final time, just a point away from a set.
Our singles positions all followed similar paths through their matches. They got out to big leads, each position going up 3-0 behind some really good play. It was great to see Cameron bringing intensity, Ethan really getting his serve, and Noah whipping the ball around the court. Both Ethan and Noah were able to finish quick sets before the first rain, but Cam tightened a bit as his opponent found the range. When the first rains came, Cam was up 5-3, 30-15, two points from the set. When we came back out, he won the first two points to take the set :-)
So, it was a good night of tennis. Even as the rains came, it felt like we had really put our best out there.
JV Recap
The rain did us in so we never even got started :-(
Moments of Encouragement
This segment is where I'll highlight ways that we built each other up during the match or the lead up to it.
This segment is where I'll highlight ways that we built each other up during the match or the lead up to it.
Encouraging Fans
We had a great set of fans out to encourage us tonight. Much of the girl's soccer and volleyball teams stopped by to cheer for the match, but I was especially impressed at how many stayed for our senior night ceremony. That meant a lot to me, so shout out to the students!
Moment of Intention
This is a space where I will offer a short prayer for the team.
Lord, I will still pause to praise You. Thanks for this team, and tonight, especially for our seniors. They are truly a fun group, growing together in maturity, tennis, life and faith. Keep them close. Amen!
Scores
Varsity
#1S - Cameron Heinisch - 6-3 - Harrison Allen (11)
#2S - Noah Schrock - 6-0, 3-1 - Luke Mansfield (9)
#3S - Ethan Pairitz - 6-1, 1-1 - Same Donnelly (9)
#1D - Austin Shenk/Matthew Dyck - 6-3, 0-1 (rain) - Gage Sefton (11)/Will Guthrie (10)
#2D - Jacob Leininger/Breece Erickson - 5-4 (rain) - Kellen Pickett (9)/Bryce Sefton (9)
Junior Varsity
No matches started.
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