NorthWood Match Report - 2019

Scores

V: NorthWood 5, Bethany Christian 0
JV: NorthWood JV 5, Bethany Christian JV 4

Photos
Click here for photos from the match.

Varsity Recap

For the second time this week, we went up against a team that is highly ranked in our district. For the second time this week, we put up a good fight but couldn't quite finish. That was very much the theme of the night. We would put ourselves in good positions, but then weren't quite able to put away the final ball to win the point or finish the game.

At every single position tonight, we kept the games close. For example, at #1D Joseph and Nathan had a game point in each game of the first set, but lost the set 6-4. That could have very easily gone the other way. Braden pushed almost every game of his second set to deuce. Caleb fought out long points, as did Josh at #3S. And Will and Tyson had the closest match of the night, always looking like they were on the verge of a major comeback.

But we couldn't quite finish it off. We'd have a 15-40 lead and hit a volley in the net and then return into the net. We'd be up an "Ad" multiple times in a game but hit groundstrokes into the net. In some matches, our opponents would play these big points really well, pulling off topspin lobs or down the line approaches that we couldn't reach.

Great teams step it up in the big points. NorthWood did that on Friday. I think we're heading in that direction.

This finishing theme all comes down to competence and confidence. We have been working hard in practice to create the competence, and hopefully that is beginning to click for you guys. That hard work should translate into confidence. But whether you are actually putting in the hard work is down to the team. Will you practice with attention, intention and energy? Will you put it in for the whole practice?

Junior Varsity Recap
Ridiculous improvement. That's what I see from our JV right now. And I have to keep pointing it out because it doesn't always show through in our results. Tonight, we would have won the match if none of their players would have played a second round. Same thing was true for Tuesday against Westview. And Fremont earlier in the year.

But having these matches against top players also pays dividends. Jacob Leininger is starting to realize that he can hit with the #2SJV players, and needs to work a bit more on preparation, movement, and placement to win more points. Breece is starting to realize his serve is dominant even against #1DJV players. And Jim and Xudong are starting to pick up wins over higher positioned people as well.

Just like the varsity, it's time for the JV to develop confidence. Knowing how to move and how to swing and forgetting about the score. Playing fun and aggressive tennis, the way we continue to learn how.

You are accepted.

Before this match even began, I was tired. I had spent the previous two days at Camp Friedenswald with sixth and seventh graders, staying up too late and listening to twelve year olds "spill the tea." But I also knew you, and knew you would provide me the energy to coach and help you through the match. I love that piece of our team, that I feel like I know who each of you are, and knowing that makes me excited to be with you and help you compete, even when I'm dead tired :-)

You are sustained.
Today, we are sustained by these moments of joy...

1. Braden's Best Play
Braden was certainly playing one of the best players he'll face all season tonight. NorthWood's #2S won their conference last year, and returns to his same position this year. But Braden didn't have any quit in him tonight. The score may not look like much, but Braden played outstanding tennis. I hope this type of aggressive tennis continues for Braden, because it will launch him into a great end of the season.

2. Cameron's Strategic Adjustments
Early in Cameron #1SJV match, it became obvious what his opponent wanted to do. He wanted to get to the net quickly and shorten rallies. And the rallies were short, but the games were long as Cameron hit some lobs in, some out, some passing shots for winners, some went wide, etc. So Cameron and I quick talked about keeping the ball deeper in the court, and not allowing his opponent to approach as easily. The points went longer, but Cameron won far more of the points. Then his opponent adjusted as well, bringing Cameron forward on short slices. So Cam and I talked about eliminating that threat by sprinting when we saw the slice. Suddenly, Cam had taken away two of his opponents weapons. And from 4-3 down, Cameron came away with a wonderful 7-5 victory.

3. Breece's Serves
Breece has always had great potential as a server. He's tall, he's played baseball (which helps a ton!) and he knows how to hit it hard. But he's had difficulty being consistent. In this match, he won a ton of points as he began to take steps toward consistency. He boomed big serves through the #2DJV match and made things difficult on his opponents. Its these improvements that give me continue hope of program strength.

You have achieved.

We came out tough tonight. That is an achievement.
We pushed every game toward deuce. That is an achievement.
We put ourselves in winning positions with our movement. That is an achievement.

Prayer
God, this week was good. It was good weather to play tennis. It was good focus in practice. It was good improvement from the players. It was not always the result we hope for, but help us to keep hoping. As we put our faith in getting better, in the process, help us to realize that is what life is about. That is what faith is about. It is about living every day with you, hoping that we live a little bit better with our neighbors than the day before. That is inspiring to me, that each day, I am invited into Your love. May we joyous receive the invitation, and extend it as well. Amen.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Caleb Shenk - 1-6, 2-6 - Wes Troyer (12)
#2S - Braden Bohn - 0-6, 2-6 - Ben Vincent (11)
#3S - Josh Cartwright - 0-6, 1-6 - Chase Horner (12)
#1D - Nathan Oostland/Joseph Mounsithiraj - 4-6, 2-6 - Jack Wysong (12)/Landon Holland (12)
#2D - Will Nisley/Tyson Miller - 3-6, 2-6 - Bryce Harner (12)/Treyton Martin (11)

Junior Varsity
#1SJV - Cameron Heinisch - 7-5 - Nate Clickovich (12)
#2SJV - Matthew Dyck - 6-2 - Skip McCoy (11)
#3SJV - Jim Lyu - 6-3 - Chaz Yoder (10)
#4SJV - Xudong Sun - 6-2 - Riley Linville (11)
#5SJV - Jacob Leininger - 0-6 - Skip McCoy (11)
#6SJV - Josiah Schlabach - 1-6 - Gage Gongwer (10)
#1DJV - Theo Siemens-Rhodes/Austin Shenk - 5-7 - Brady Chupp (10)/Gage Gongwer (10)
#2DJV - Chris Craw/Breece Erickson - 6-7 (3) - Brad Demitruk (11)/Logan Perry (9)
#3DJV - Kameron Branum/Jacob Shank - 3-6 - Wes Steiner (10)/Charles Anderson (10)