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Varsity
Again, the Bruins competed against a difficult opponent to open this season. The RedHawks return most of their team from winning our Sectional last season, and then losing in a close match to Westview's state finalist team. But the RedHawks are also a deep team, with talent running down into their JV team as well.
Against Northridge, we were very inconsistent about bringing our best effort and attitude against a talented team. Tonight, we did a much better job at that. We played more of the match in ways that we wanted to.
Interestingly, it seesawed back and forth as to which part of the match we brought our better game to. For Breece, Noah, and Oscar - all of our singles positions - they really played the whole first sets of their matches in the way that they wanted to. Each of them served extremely well in their first sets, but they also were able to play the style of tennis that they wanted to. Getting to the net or grinding at the baseline or controlling rallies, each of these players has their distinctives. And in the first set, they really challenged their opponents with the best of their style. It was really fun to see Noah sliding out wide to keep a baseline rally going, to hear Breece vocalizing his belief in himself, to see Oscar scrambling and forcing errors.
But just at the end of each set, their opponents turned up the quality. At #3S, Oscar couldn't force the errors he had earlier in the set. At #2S and #1S, Noah and Breece's opponents found big winners and angles in the big moments. All three positions dropped the first set. In the second sets, we kept fighting, but the energy and focus needed to bring our best had gone. Our level stayed high, we kept learning, but we couldn't find the big points needed to put pressure on Goshen. We stayed smiling though, because we were making progress.
At doubles, it was the opposite way around. The first sets saw us rocked back on our heels a bit, and then in the second sets we found some success. It was if we started processing all that we've learned from the first week of matches, and poured it into our second sets. Both of the doubles matches had close second set games, but only #1D made a dent on the scoreboard. #2D had chances to get breaks or to hold serve, but couldn't get the clinching points. We'll grow in confidence where that is concerned.
And that's the key for the whole team, we'll grow in confidence from this. We enter into parts of our schedule where we can get a couple more wins, and I hope that we are taking good growth lessons away from this part of the schedule. Let's keep getting better.
Again, the JV was given many chances to get better. Just as every JV player had at least two matches against Northridge, everybody got at least two matches again tonight. We are grateful for those opportunities, because even though we get tired, we get to learn from successes and failures. We see what types of shots are causing damage to our opponents, and which types are just doing damage to ourselves. We get to work on doubles partnerships and we get to see what we need to work on. It's been really cool to see certain strengths emerge among our JV. Emerson's serve, Keagan's return, Dominic's volleys, Adam's net play, Gabo's determination, Justin's passing shots... each player is starting to show areas that they are strong in.
Tonight, those developing strengths didn't bring any wins. But they will. And that is the key!
These are going to be moments that I saw in the match that were fun, beautiful and memorable! Again, just from what I happened to see :-)
Keagan Wielding His Backhand Power!
In a beautifully simple point in his second match, Keagan showed the skills he's been working on all offseason. A second serve bounced into his backhand, and Keagan topspun a deep ball to his opponent's backhand. Moving forward, his opponent lofted a backpedaling shot to Keagan's backhand volley. With a nimble split step, Keagan turned his shoulders and placed a backhand volley cross court at an awesome angle. And his opponent was caught watching, as it slipped past for a winner.
Emerson with the Returns!
Also in the second match, Emerson was killing it with his returns. The doubles opponents we faced all day had nice, big serves. But Emerson was moving forward and taking short, smooth swings. His returns took the pace of the serve and sent it back at the server. Often Emerson's shots were landing deep on the baseline, allowing him to get to the net and prepare for the next shot. Four times in a row, Emerson was able to set up winning points for he and Adam with this wonderful shot.
Adam Carving Up His Passing Shots!
In the same doubles partnership, Adam was finding some success by placing his passing shots really well. Several times, Adam was able to hold his shot until the last possible second and then wrong foot his opponent. He would catch them moving toward the middle and slide it down the line, or catch them moving toward the net and put a lob over them. These shots kept the RedHawks off balance in the match.
Gabo Brushing Through His Forehands!
Gabo got the opportunity to play a lot of tennis yesterday, and it was really fun to watch him improve. By the end of his match he was really getting the hang of forehands as he moved forward. He was whipping over the top of them with some topspin and using some great footwork to get up toward the net. Often, his good forehands caused his opponent to be off balance, and play a ball out of the air or hit it long.
So Many More...
Noah's lobs, Oscar's serves, Breece's passing shots, Cameron's intensity, Tristan's returns, Ian's putaways, Gideon's precision, Justin's hustle, Dominic's continually improving forehand... all these could be highlighted, as well as points I'm sure I missed. Enjoy the beauty of each moment.
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.
Doubles Talk
I love nothing more than to see a doubles team huddled together. Whether it is strategy or encouragement or just an inside joke, it's never a bad thing to see a doubles team with their heads together. Tonight, I saw that all over the court. Gideon and Ian pumping each other up. Cam and Tristan nodding and getting fired up together. Dominic and Keagan smiling and shrugging. Adam and Emerson pumping fists toward one another after a good shot. This kind of positivity builds the team.
Moment of Intention
This is a space where I will offer a short prayer for the team.
Lord, this week is a long and difficult one. As we get to the end of it, please continue to bless us with positivity. Help us head into the break in practice with a good mood, ready to refocus for the future. Help us remember the process, remember that this happened to us last year as well, and begin to grow. Everything can get better, and so can everyone. Help us be people that bring our best to each other. Amen.
Scores
Varsity
#1S - Breece Erickson - 3-6, 1-6 - Moses Sawatzky (12)
#2S - Noah Schrock - 5-7, 1-6 - Isaac Stahly (11)
#3S - Oscar Pairitz - 4-6, 2-6 - Kyan Miller (10)
#1D - Cameron Heinisch/Tristan Mast - 0-6, 3-6 - Joel Byler (12)/Myles Mclaughlin (11)
#2D - Ian McHugh/Gideon Miller - 0-6, 1-6 - Blaine Miller (12)/Moses Kratzer (11)
JV
#1SJV - Justin Hochstedler - 0-4, 0-4 - Evan Hochstedler (11)
#2SJV - Gabo Brenneman Ochoa - 0-6 - Eli Stickel (9)
#3SJV - Justin Hochstedler - 1-4, 0-4 - Anton Alstrom (11)
#4SJV - Gabo Brenneman Ochoa - 0-6 - Jacob Murphy (11)
#5SJV - Gabo Brenneman Ochoa - 2-6 - Kaden Priebe (12)
#1DJV - Adam Siemens-Rhodes/Emerson Landis - 0-4, 0-4 - Aidan Ebright Zehr (12)/Ian Saner (10)
#2DJV - Keagan Meyer/Dominic Ramer - 0-4, 0-4 - Tyler Scott (11)/Braxten Sheets (11)
#3DJV - Adam Siemens-Rhodes/Emerson Landis - 3-5, 1-4 - David Stutzman (10)/Levi Sawatzky (9)
#4DJV - Keagan Meyer/Dominic Ramer - 2-4, 2-4 - Evan Timmons (9)/Mo Watt (9)
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