Growing in Wisdom - Northridge Match

 Video

Varsity Recap
The Bruins took on the Northridge Raiders, a team returning 6 of their 7 varsity starters from last season. And in the match, the Raiders looked like the more seasoned team.  

Gideon and Judah had some breakthrough moments at the top singles spots, but the Raiders players they played looked polished and played to their strengths. The Raider players had different strengths, at #1 it was power and placement, at #2 simple consistency. Gideon and Judah also need to use their strengths - Gid's counter punching and never say die attitude and Judah's consistent pace and driven forehand - to combat others. Our games are often good enough that we don't have to change everything, just make the very little tweaks mentally, emotionally and physically. The top two Bruin singles players made moments where they got that just right, but couldn't keep it up for the matches. 

The other three positions then really dug in to try to provide the three points. #2D matured as the match went on, moving and hitting with more and more conviction. When Dom and Aaron were decisive they played some really great tennis. I really enjoyed watching Aaron's forehands drive the players away from the net and the aggressive nature with which they were going for any reachable volley. I know this group will continue to grow in confidence, developing an attitude of wanting to hit every ball and make the great plays. 

That is similar to #1D. Malachi and Isaya jumped out to an early lead in their match with some great net play. Their opponents, who had played singles last year, did a good job of finding ways to push Malachi and Isaya off the net. Again, consistent pressure was the key. Stringing together three or four shots that force reaction plays instead of only one - or instead of being the team reacting all the time. Malachi and Isaya went down in the second set, but made a great attempt at a comeback as they loosened up again. Unfortunately they couldn't get close enough to really quite put the pressure really on. Both doubles team fell in straight sets.

Ethan had also lost his first set, but raced out to a great second set lead. This whole time he was moving and hitting his spots, really forcing his opponent to make difficult aggressive shots or defend from Ethan's mid-court approaches. In the second set, Ethan led 5-0 but then tightened, watching his opponent come all the way back. Amazingly, Ethan was able to stop the slide and seal the set to send it to a third. The third was back and forth, with Ethan really having stretches of amazing tennis. But in the end, a little tightness meant that some shots started falling short. So the Bruin varsity lost 5-0.

But on we go, learning and growing in wisdom and how we apply it. Always good to play good teams, we learn and grow. So onward, forward.

Let's go Bruins!

JV Recap

The JV had several really epic matches. Both Elias and Jordan went deep into their first singles matches, hanging tight and playing really competitive tennis. Jordan was able to surge to the finish line, winning 8-6 while Elias just couldn't quite get the same final push. In doubles, Silas and Josiah seemed to figure things out right at the end of their match, winning the last three games before Silas and Lucas won in their second match of the night.

At many of the JV positions, Northridge did just a slightly better job of moving and keeping the ball in the court. That's such a key. If we can find the touch to keep the point alive, it allows our opponents a chance to make the error. We will also continue to improve where we place the ball, so that retrieval becomes more difficult.

We can also pick up our level of effort with our feet. Tonight, the Bruins looked like slow movers on the court - the short, quick little steps of our footwork drills were nowhere to be seen. But I know we can do it. We've seen it in practice, we've seen it in conditioning. Often, we get a bit nervous and that makes us a bit stagnant. But again, we learn and grow!

WE CAN BE HUMBLE, BECAUSE WE BELONG: Moments of Belonging

Call Outs

Several players were having difficult moments tonight. Where things weren't as they wanted them, strokes felt out of balance, things felt like they were unravelling. In those moments, I was surprised at the number of times I'd hear teammates call down the courts to them. I heard it in almost every varsity match as I walked the sideline. I love to encourage you all, but I love it even more when you encourage one another. Keep reaching out and letting your positive voices be heard.

WHEN WE ARE WISE: Wisdom is Playing the Percentages

Using Strengths

I really loved watching Ethan's match. I love we I get the opportunity to just watch one match at a time. Ethan has a real strength in moving into the short balls. He can place approaching shots with precision and power. With a set point at the end of the second set, he ripped a ball into his opponent's forehand corner. It missed by a small margin. But I knew at that point he'd be fine and would win the set. He was using his strengths, and not trying to do something crazy and new in the middle of a match. 

Net Pressure

Our varsity doubles are active net players. I love it. Their movement and threat is really evident when they are playing well. I loved that from the first game, Malachi was all over the place at the net. He had a point where he had to go down low to his right to pick off the first volley, and he lifted it into the middle of the court with great touch. Then another shot came, this one down the middle and he got low and drove his legs through the next volley. It stayed low and skidded into the backhand corner, drawing an error from his Raider opponent. Active net play is a really high percentage play!

THEN WE ARE STRONG: Exceptional Outcomes

Seriously
In Silas and Lucas's doubles match, it may have been that both players were a bit frustrated about their first match results, but they weren't super locked in when playing doubles. The match was too close, and Daniel pulled them to the fence to just talk about moving their feet and playing seriously. The transformation was immediate. Lucas shuffled around and barely missed any more shots, Silas finished at the net and the match went from a nail-biter to an easy victory. The first point after Daniel's encouragement was a lob to the Bruin net player, who put away a vicious overhead volley with pace, right at the opponent. That was an awesome response!

Prayer

God, there will be days in tennis where we play exceptionally well. There will be days where we don't quite rise to the challenge. Yet, we are loved. May we pursue growth because we love the sport, we love our teammates and we relish a challenge. Please, help us to grow in our love and gratitude for You. Amen.

Scores

Varsity
#1S - Gideon Miller - 0-6, 0-6 - Seth Lomas (11)

#2S - Judah Miller - 0-6, 1-6 - Graham Tabor (9)

#3D - Ethan Claassen - 4-6, 7-5, 4-6 - Ty Stahly (10)

#1D - Malachi Yoder/Isaya Magatti - 3-6, 3-6 - Peyton Graber (12)/Josiah Schrock (12)

#2D - Dominic Ramer/Aaron Hochstetler - 1-6, 4-6 - Jayden Ramirez (12)/Ollie Burnstine (12)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Elias Magatti - 6-8 - Grant Kauffmann (10)

#2SJV - Lucas Bateman - 0-8 - Lucas Ellis (9)

#3SJV - Jordan Hochstedler - 8-6 - Silvan von Holzen (12)

#4SJV - Eli Steiner - 3-6 - Jacob Stephens (10)

#1DJV - Silas Martin/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 3-8 - Finn Schmidt (10)/Miles Hainlin (11)

#2DJV - Eli Steiner/Sam Brenneman - 3-8 - John Stephens (12)/Joseph Snyder (12)

#3DJV - Ayden Lehman/Ethan Miller - 0-8 - Brady Barkby (10)/Truman Mast (10)

#4DJV - Silas Martin/Lucas Bateman - 6-1 - Caleb Miller (10)/Nathan Beer (12)

#5DJV - Josiah Aguilar Clark/Sam Brenneman - 2-6 - Garin Wilkinson (9)/Drew Yoder (9)