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)

I really like the way... Northridge

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Varsity Recap

Today was our first match of the season. In our final warmup, the scrimmage, we didn't really like the way we came out of the gates. Tonight we determined that we were going to change that. Right from the beginning of our matches, we were going to play in a way of positivity, electricity and belief in our ability. 

And truly, that paid off. Most of the matches got off to very good starts. #1D won an easy game behind Emerson's serve. #2D saw Ethan come out with a lot of belief in his serve and hold for a game. Gideon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with beautiful serving and consistency. Noah traded a pair of service holds. Really, only Judah's match at #3S saw us fall behind. I really liked the way we started.

Noah's matchup was certainly going to be the most challenging. Playing one of the better players in the area, Noah found that his Raider opponent wasn't giving him a lot of free points. Because of this, the whole match was a grind. The Northridge #1 had powerful groundstrokes, and so he was able to finish a lot of short balls for winners. I really liked the way Noah didn't let a winner get him down, but simply moved on to the next point. Despite the effort, the long games, the many deuces, Noah couldn't quite seem to find the finishing balls to force errors or hit winners of his own. In a long two set match, Noah fell 6-3, 6-3 to give the Raider's a point on the scoreboard.

In a match that ended about the same time as Noah's, #2D also found themselves on the losing end of a two set match. After the great start, Ethan and Dominic dealt with the nerves that come from one of our first varsity matches. Nerves tend to translate into timidity and standing still, as we become tight and want to feel more in control. The first set went the way of nerves. But I really liked the way Dom and Ethan came out in the second set. We were much more bouncy and believing in our shots. In the end, the second set stayed close - but some great shots near the end saw the Raiders collect their second position of the varsity match.

With the Raiders having 2 positions, they only needed one more to complete the team victory. But Gideon was cruising through his match. Sometimes the points were long, but Gideon played consistent tennis. I really liked the way Gideon was sliding and covering the court. He was making it feel like the perfect shot had to be hit to get past him. His opponent shifted tactics midway through the first set and began to attack the net, and Gideon simply took the time to line up his passing shot or lob. There was especially one point that was amazing as well, that I'll highlight in one of the sections below. But Gideon was able to deliver the Bruins first team point with a 6-3, 6-1 victory.

With the 2-1 score, we needed both #1D and #3S. Both matches were excellent matchups of teams playing at similar levels. In Judah's #3S match, the first set had gone long. Judah fell behind early but then kept keeping it close - pulling back from 3-1 and 5-3 deficits to take a 6-5 lead. I really liked the way Judah kept it positive in this close set. Despite grabbing the lead, the first set went into a tiebreak. A couple of errors late and a little bit of tense nerves saw the Raiders win a close tiebreak, and the first set. But I really liked the way Judah came out for the second set. There was no sulking or hanging his head, he came out with electricity. He showed that he was ready to play a long match if necessary. He won the second set and went into the third set with a lot of momentum.

#1D of Keagan and Emerson were also in a nail-biter. They played strong tennis in the first set, and I really liked the way they served all through the set. Their strong serves garnered a lot of return errors from their opponents, and put pressure on the Raiders to hold when their service games came around. The Bruins grabbed the first set, but then had a period of cooling off to start the second set. Down 4-1, they upped their energy and I really liked the way they brought back the electricity. They pulled back to 5-4, played an epic, long game that would have allowed them to tie the match back at 5-5. But the Raiders won that game and it was headed to a third set.

So, needing both third sets, they both started around the same time. And they were awesome. Just displays of some of the best tennis we can play. #1D continued their electricity and jumped out to a 4-1 lead of their own. They were bouncy and positive. They surged to the finish of their match with the same ingredients that had allowed them to take the 1st set - great serving and consistent returns. The team roared as they finished their match with a 6-1 third set.  There were high fives and hugs and then we headed down to Judah's court which would decide the match.

At that point, Judah had started the third set with the same type of energy. He was leading 4-1 when Emerson and Keagan's match finished. With the team coming to provide the extra boost, Judah won 8 of the next 9 points to seal his third set. He roared as the final ball sailed wide and the Bruins completed a comeback victory to defeat the Raiders.

I liked the way we started and I liked the way we finished. Way to go, Bruins!

JV Recap

The same thing the was true in the varsity match was true for the JV. I really liked the way we came out and started our matches. But even better, we seemed to hit the ball better as the matches continued. 

In our top JV singles matches, both Isaya and Aaron started out with a lot of effort. Isaya especially was impressive with his bounciness. This meant that even though they were a little nervous at the beginning, as the match wore on they became better and better at their groundstrokes. Their opponents were also really solid and really consistent hitters. To be honest, I liked the way the Raider JV singles stayed patient and played these matches as well. By the end, we were striking the ball so well. However, we couldn't quite find the ways to finish the long points on the winning end. Something to improve on :-)

In the #3SJV match, Lucas found himself matched up against a senior. A senior who had a really nice serve. But I really liked the way that Lucas kept good confidence and excellent footwork in this match. His footwork allowed him to be consistent, and consistency proved to be the key to defeating the Raider senior. Lucas worked points well with his forehand, and hustled like crazy. In the end, Lucas pulled ahead and secured a darkness-shortened 7-5 match.

In the doubles matches, Malachi and Silas were able to play two separate sets. In the first match, we seemed a bit timid. Often, we were making errors on simple shots or lofting the ball down the middle for their net player to finish. In the second match, I really liked the way we adjusted our mistakes. Silas swung more forward through the ball and Malachi drove it a bit better, instead of floating it. Also, we were able to be much more aggressive at the net. All of this led to one win and one loss.

At the second doubles position, Josiah and Ender played a fun match. It was full of crazy points and scrambling and volleys and sprints. I really liked the way we pursued everything, full of determination. Things didn't go our way, but I liked the way Ender came off the court with a plan in his head for what he could improve. 

Preston and Eli's match at the final doubles spot was much the same. Preston and Eli were full of hustle and concentration. These two have been getting so much better as the season has progressed. They were scrambling and moving. Serves continue to be something we have to be more consistent with, but the effort was top notch. I really love to see that.

So, the JV match ended 2-5, with the Raiders having just a bit more consistency to their play. Good job, Bruins!

I really like the way...

This will be a segment of each match report where I'll highlight amazing things - points, efforts, encouragements from the match.

- I really like the way Gideon retrieved

Retrieval is an underrated tennis skill that is really hard to teach. It is a combination of mindset, quickness, preparation, anticipation, soft hands, and hustle that is hard to put into a drill. Gideon's play style is full of it however. In this match, Gideon had a point that he won where he retrieved 3 overheads in a row, before a fourth overhead flew wide. I really like the way Gideon never feels like the point is over.

- I really like the way we played 3rd sets with energy

Two years ago, Bruin alumni Breece Erickson told Gideon and Ian McHugh that, "In a 3rd set, the player or team who has more energy always wins." That quote stuck with Gid, and as we entered the 3rd sets, he made sure to come and tell me to remind our guys. We did, and wow, did Emerson, Keagan, and Judah respond. It was inspired to see Judah bouncing around on his toes waiting to return serve. To see Emerson and Keagan turning toward one another in celebration. How awesome!

- I really like the way our singles hit the ball

In each of our singles matches, we really were striking the ball in the middle of the racket. I loved how clean Noah, Gid, Judah, Isaya, Aaron and Lucas were hitting. All tennis is built on consistency, so having that base of solid strikes allows us to build together. It happened in the doubles matches too, but it really stood out with our singles players.

- I really like the way we celebrated together

As the match got close, we got close. We stood behind Emerson and Keagan's court and gave them positivity as they tried to get over the line in their third set. With that energy, they flew through the set, full of confidence. Then the team transferred that energy down to Judah's court, and he won. Even at the end, we got behind Lucas, Malachi and Silas, and Eli and Preston who were still playing. Eating together and singing together capped off some great energy for the night. 

- I really like the way we continue to work

This morning, I drove into the parking lot and someone was hitting on the wall. It was Josiah. He's continuing to work. After the match, Keagan came up and asked about working on his serve. He won, but he's continuing to work. In practice yesterday, we had a good energy. We are continuing to be responsible and accountable for our growth.

Prayer

God, not every part of every match is good. Not every part of the season is feels good. But tonight's match felt good. Thanks for that feeling. We pray that we get to feel it again throughout the year. Also, remind us that how we feel isn't the only thing that matters. Remind us that building the relationships around us, encouraging others, allowing others to encourage us, keeping our eyes on You - these are the things that matter. Even when things don't feel so good, those important things will still be there. So let us lean into You and lean on one another. 

Amen.

Scores

Varsity

#1S - Noah Schrock - 3-6, 3-6 - Seth Lomas (10)

#2S - Gideon Miller - 6-3, 6-1 - Josiah Schrock (11)

#3S - Judah Miller - 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-1 - Peyton Graber (11)

#1D - Emerson Landis/Keagan Meyer - 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 - Aden Yi (12)/Ollie Burnstine (11)
#2D - Dominic Ramer/Ethan Claassen - 2-6, 4-6 - Jayden Ramirez (11)/Joseph Snyder (11)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Isaya Magatti - 1-8 - Ty Stahly (9)

#2SJV - Aaron Hochstetler - 3-8 - Graham Taber (9)

#3SJV - Lucas Bateman - 7-5 - Gavin Mullins (12)

#1DJV - Malachi Yoder/Silas Martin - 2-8 - Grant Kauffmann (9)/Miles Hainlin (10)

#2DJV - Ender Finnigan/Josiah Aguilar Clark - 3-8 - Finn Schmidt (9)/Silvan von Holzen (11)

#3DJV - Malachi Yoder/Silas Martin - 6-0 - Jacob Stephens (9)/Grant Walker (9)

#4DJV - Preston Miller/Eli Steiner - 2-6 - John Stephens (11)/Caleb Miller (9)

What We Really Enjoyed 1: Northridge

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Varsity Recap

Last night, our match was just about to get started when the skies opened up with rain. Tonight, as we pulled into Northridge HS, it felt like the same thing might happen. But instead, just after the introductions of the lineup, the sun came out and we were able to enjoy a gorgeous night of tennis.

And I would say that it was a night that went about just like expected. As a team, we definitely didn't play our best tennis - well, we had some flashes. But overall, it was a nervous, first match of the year energy that we played with. Probably because it was our first match of the year. 

Things started well enough up and down the courts. Noah, Gideon, Ian, and #1 doubles all took games early in their matches and looked like they'd be competitive throughout. We started with good energy, but Northridge did too. The Raiders are an experienced team this season, with five seniors playing. That's a lot of high school tennis played, even if it hasn't all been varsity level. So, they came out with good play as well.

At the doubles positions, the Raiders did a really nice job of controlling the net. So much of doubles is putting pressure on your opponents by getting into attacking positions and then finishing when you have the chance. The #1 doubles team also combined their great court position with swinging out wide serves that made returning cross court difficult. This court advantage and placement skill made it difficult for our doubles teams to stay aggressive in the match. Throw in some first match jitters and we found ourselves trying to dig out of a hole. 

There were definitely bright spots of play for both doubles, especially the first set from #1 doubles and the second set for #2D. In those sets, we were able to stay loose and play with a lot of belief. That joyful attitude puts pressure on by itself, and keeps us swinging looser and better. 

At the singles positions, Gideon and Ian both had similar matches. They were very close and tight in the first set as we tried to figure each other out. Both struggled with a bit of inconsistency in serve and in finishing out points. They had matches that they could compete in and they knew it. As often happens, knowing you can win can put pressure on. And as Gideon and Ian couldn't quite find the finishing shots to end points, they both felt the frustration that can come in tennis as well. We were incredibly proud of how they kept at it, and found some really good shots and serves in each moment. But the second sets in both of these matches slowly slipped away from us. Really good moments to build on though!

At #1 singles, Noah got to reap the fruit of his practice. We've been working on keeping the ball deep in the court, and Noah got to see first hand the difference that made. Playing against a super talented freshman who likes to get on attack and use his angles, Noah found that if he dropped balls short and high in the court he was constantly at a disadvantage. Working the ball deeper though would take away his opponent's angles and allow Noah the time he wanted to go to work. When Noah kept the ball consistently deep in the court, he won games. When he didn't, the close games would go to his opponent. Noah was able to mix in the deep rallies with booming serves, and was able to close out a great opening day victory for his position!

So, all in all, the Bruins competed well. Lots of nerves out of the system against a good team, and we'll be ready to build. Most of us played our best tennis at some point during the match, now sustaining that level and having fun in that space is where we want to start from. I can't wait. I really enjoy watching the team grow!

JV Recap

This was a match that went as could be expected. Many of our JV were playing their first matches of their career, against a Raider JV that featured 3 seniors and 3 juniors (and no freshman). So we started out nervous and not quite moving our feet and being assertive like we might want to. 

In most matches, we went down by many games at the beginning of the match. This seemed to be due to a lot of standing and getting put in awkward spots to hit awkward shots. Then we would hit the ball out. Continuing to move in between shots is such a big difference maker in being consistent and consistently improving. 

One spot where that was evident was with Dominic at #2 singles JV. He was moving and motivated from the beginning and was able to have an awesome match. It was always very close, with long, consistent points and very few silly errors from either player. It was fun to see Dominic's movement and belief both on display. In the end, Dominic couldn't quite find the attacking shots to pull out the victory, but it was a joy to watch. More on that in later sections.

But many people built confidence as the match went on. Isaya's match was a good example of that. After getting down 1-6, Isaya worked his way back into the match. His strokes were more consistent and forced more from his opponent. Isaya got it back to 4-6, but couldn't quite climb out of the big hole from the beginning of the match. But his best play was there at the end of the match.

Also, as people got to playing second matches, we also saw the consistency build. Malachi, Silas, Ethan and Adam all got to play a second round, and they were relaxed and ready to go in these matches. It was super fun to watch and see us not playing tense.

Moments of Joy
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 :-)

Noah's Passing Shots

You can see one on the reel, but I loved watching Noah's low, driven passing shots when his opponent would attack the net. These shots made it difficult for the Raider's #1 to volley, but also gave energy to Noah and to the team. 

Dominic's Match

Nothing but positive. Dominic came to tennis last year with a lot of determination, and he has really worked hard to improve his game. It showed in this match, where he played a long, incredible match. Despite only playing a one set match, he was the last Bruin off the court. His forehands and backhands were on, he was serving consistently. Awesome to see the jump in his game this season. Loved it! 

Emerson and Keagan's Fun

The first set was tight, but the second set you could see the #2 doubles team actually enjoying tennis. Even though they continued to sail some returns long, the loose way they played really helped them find their best moments. Net play from the guys was incredible, and they continued to build their serves. But smiles were the best thing to see.

JV Gets Better

Just to highlight this again, the JV played their best tennis the longer their matches went. As they relaxed, they started to find the best parts of their games. That was awesome. Now we know right where to pick up in the next match :-)

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.

Leadership

Dominic's match was the last match on. All of the rest of the team had just finished, and were standing around the fence, chatting about their matches and their thoughts. Suddenly, one of our senior leaders realized that Dominic was still playing and we were far away from his match. This was mentioned, and the whole team moved to gather behind Dominic's court. It was a move of team unity that I love to see. And when Dominic didn't come out on top, the team all moved down to tell him that it was all good, he had played well. Love it when we watch each other and show the encouragement.

Moment of Intention

This is a space where I will offer a short prayer for the team.

God, thanks for a night to get this season underway. I pray that we learn both tennis and character lessons from tonight, and that we continue to turn toward each other in joy. May we experience the sheer and savage joy of swinging our rackets at a moving target, and not take for granted the awesome experience it is to be on a team together. Thanks!

Amen.

Scores

Varsity

#1S - Noah Schrock - 6-3, 6-3 - Seth Lomas (9)

#2S - Gideon Miller - 3-6, 1-6 - Elijah Shell (12)

#3S - Ian McHugh - 4-6, 1-6 - Daniel Vaughn (12)

#1D - Tristan Mast/Justin Hochstedler - 1-6, 1-6 - Nolan Mellott (12)/Mason Bales (11)

#2D - Emerson Landis/Keagan Meyer - 0-6, 3-6 - Lucas Wensel (12)/Gabe Miller (12)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Ethan Claassen - 0-8 - Josiah Schrock (10)

#2SJV - Dominic Ramer - 7-9 - Peyton Graber (10)

#3SJV - Isaya Magatti - 4-8 - Gavin Mullens (11)

#4SJV - Malachi Yoder - 6-2 - Joseph Snyder (10)

#5SJV - Silas Martin - 0-6 - Silvan von Holzen (10)

#1DJV - Adam Siemens Rhodes/Elliot Hertzler Gascho - 2-8 - Trayton Cole (12)/Aden Yi (11)

#2DJV - Malachi Yoder/Silas Martin - 0-8 - Andrew McDonough (12)/Ollie Burnstine (10)

#3DJV - Adam Siemens Rhodes/Ethan Claassen - 6-0 - Gael Delgado (11)/Emi Delgado (12)

Match Report #2 - Northridge

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Varsity

This was a great opportunity for our team. We knew going into this match that Northridge was a talented, experienced group of varsity players. We knew that winning any match would be difficult. We knew from summer league matches that they hit the ball hard, and we would need to react.

And our response to this was mixed. We didn't always play like we wanted to against this strong team. But we did each have segments where our play was like we wanted. Breece started out really well, serving strongly and finding some great passing shots. It really looked decisive and full of belief. As the #1S match went on, his opponent found a great stretch of play. He was hitting winners and making few errors, and Breece started to miss by the smallest of margins. Breece never got back to the level he had at the beginning of the set.

For Noah at #2S, he was opposite of Breece. He didn't start on his A game. Noah was missing shots he normally makes, and his opponent was also finding a lot of winners. Beginning the second set, Noah found the way that he wanted to play. He got a lot of balls back into play and was finding the finishing shot that either put the pressure on or finished the play.

Finishing the play was the big deal for Oscar #3S. Oscar was hanging in most of his rallies, that would last a while until Oscar got a finishing ball. Then Oscar it would come down to whether those shots were going in or not. Oscar was seesawing back and forth with these shots, having games and runs of points where he was finishing. The second set saw some really great rallies, but Oscar couldn't quite keep the finishing going.

At the doubles, the first set for Cameron and Tristan was great tennis. They were serving just the way they wanted to. They were on their toes, playing with belief and decisiveness. It was really amazing to watch. The first set stayed really close as they found the angles, lobs and passing shots to challenge the Raiders. The first 8 games of that set was exactly what Cam and Tristan want to play like. 

But we don't always get what we want, and at the end of the set, Cam and Tristan's best play deserted them for a few points. Those few points turned the momentum, and the Raiders began to really be in charge of the match. A couple of good points in a row could have turned it right back for us, but we couldn't find those at the big points - the break points, the game points, the deuces all seemed to go the Northridge way.

And #2D was actually similar to Noah's match at #2S. They didn't start with energy and belief, but found some going into the second set. A big part of tennis is continual readiness, early preparation, and forward momentum. Gideon and Ian got this going a bit in the second set. But we still have to work on playing against power and pace. But they are going to get there. We all are.

So it was a 5-0 loss. Onward. Forward.

JV Recap

This was the match that kept going and going and going :-)

Northridge had 17 JV players, and we had 6, so our guys got to play a lot of tennis. At the top positions, the Raiders did a great job of controlling the points. Our #1DJV team of Adam and Emerson actually competed well in each game, but had a couple too many errors in decisive points. Justin at #1SJV had long games as well, but kept missing out on the points to seal the games. 

But as we started playing our second and third matches, we began to see better play. It's like we settled into the match and began to play the way we wanted to. Keagan was crushing groundstrokes, Gabo was scrambling around to get everything back, Justin was hitting passing shots up the line, Dominic was smacking forehands, Emerson was serving beautifully and putting away volleys, Adam was finding the perfect lobs and smacking away hanging balls at the net. 

Seeing this play didn't guarantee us wins at every positions, but we did pick up more games and wins as the night went on. The final match went to Justin and Gabo as they finished off the Raider's 7th doubles team of the night! Emerson and Adam also won their final 3 matches of the 4 (!) they got to play. That ended well.

Moments of Joy
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 :-)

Dominic's Forehand Attack

Dominic played a singles match tonight, something that he was a little worried to do. But he played a great match. One area that was really a delight was his return of serve. On his opponent's serve, Dominic had such a smooth forehand swing, and he would knock the ball deep and attack the net behind it. Three times in a row he was able to force errors from his opponent with this same simple strategy. That's a great ability, the ability to be able to repeat what is working!

Ian's Serve

We've been working on fixing and fine tuning Ian's serve this year, so it was pretty cool to see it actually become a weapon at certain points during the match tonight. In one point in particular, Ian gouged a low slice serve wide to his opponent's forehand. The low trajectory and spin of the ball made his opponent hit up on the ball, instead of being able to drive it with force. Ian then stepped in a pounded a forehand down the middle of the court, just out of the comfortable reach of either opponent. The Raider net man tried to make a lunge for it, but it was low and powerful and he could only drag his volley into the net. It was a good example of what a spinning serve can do for Ian. 

Simple Doubles

Sometimes, the simple points are the most beautiful. In doubles, I love nothing more than a well placed serve followed up by a well placed volley. With Tristan serving and Cam roaming the net, there were many of these in the #1D match. I love that Cam follows this up with a "C'mon!" and going back to high five Tristan. These points are awesome because each player contributes, but it stays uncomplicated.

So Many More...

Emerson and Adam's growing communication, a couple of Keagan overheads, Gabo's returns, Gideon's first serve, Oscar's passing shots, Breece's drop volleys... there were more points that deserve description. So glad when we can celebrate these good moments!

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.

Late Nights

It was very cool to watch the varsity players get behind the JV in this match. After difficult matches themselves, they gathered around to watch the JV guys battle it out. Breece went and made sure each JV guy got a good shot on video for the Reel :-) They called out encouragement to the freshmen who were in close matches trying to stay positive. And there was no complaining even though the match went past 8:00 at night. I've heard other teams talking about how boring it is to watch their teammates, but I value how much fun these guys have supporting each other. It was great!

Keagan's Encouragement of His Partners

Keagan got to play with a couple of freshman tonight, and it was fun to see his encouragement of them. When they wanted to get down on themselves, he let them know there was nothing that they could do. Keagan is a player of all out effort, giving his best to the match. So it's fun to see him encouraging others to stay positive and bring their best. He's showing that he is a great doubles partner.

Moment of Intention

This is a space where I will offer a short prayer for the team.

God, there were stretches of this match where we were encouraged, where we saw our hard work pay off, where we felt joy. There were periods of the match that we felt slow, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Let us learn to move toward the joy, to learn from the hard, and to make choices that increase the best in us. May we lift our teammates into these good places, may we lift our head, may we trust in You. Amen.

Scores

Varsity

#1S - Breece Erickson - 1-6, 0-6 - Brendan LaCounte (12)
#2S - Noah Schrock - 0-6, 1-6 - Brandon Lomas (12)

#3S - Oscar Pairitz - 1-6, 1-6 - Kaleb Ellis (12)

#1D - Cameron Heinisch/Tristan Mast - 4-6, 2-6 - Mason Martin (12)/Harry Brown (12)

#2D - Ian McHugh/Gideon Miller -1-6, 2-6 - Elijah Shell (11)/Nolan Mellott (11)

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Justin Hochstedler - 1-6 - Carter Krizmanich (12)

#2SJV - Dominic Ramer - 2-6 - Andrew McDonough (11)

#3SJV - Justin Hochstedler - 5-7 - Aden Yi (10)

#1DJV - Adam Siemens-Rhodes/Emerson Landis - 2-6 - Mason Bales (10)/Zak Martin (12)

#2DJV - Keagan Meyer/Gabo Brenneman Ochoa - 4-6 - Lucas Wensel (11)/Gabe Miller (11)

#3DJV - Adam Siemens-Rhodes/Emerson Landis - 6-1 - Vadim Kidun (11)/Tyler Garofalo (10)

#4DJV - Keagan Meyer/Dominic Ramer - 5-7 - Gavin Mullins (10)/Oliver Burnstine (9)

#5DJV - Adam Siemens-Rhodes/Emerson Landis - 6-1 - Daniel Vaughn (11)/Josiah Schrock (9)

#6DJV - Justin Hochstedler/Gabo Brenneman Ochoa - 6-4 - Joseph Snyder (9)/Payton Graber (9)

#7DJV - Adam Siemens-Rhodes/Emerson Landis - 6-0 - Silvan Von Holzen (9)/Jayden Ramirez (9)

Match Report #2: Northridge

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Varsity Recap
Onward. Forward.

At the beginning of team camp, I asked the team to come up with words that would define their character for the upcoming season. They chose many words, but among them were self-control, encourage, joy, positive and adaptable. 

Tonight we played a tough team, the Northridge Raiders. In most of our varsity matches, the scores were lopsided. This didn't mean that we played badly... in fact, for several of the guys their play tonight was some of their best this season. At the same time, when you are losing without much chance it is easy to give up. 

But we are a team of self-control, encouragement, joy, positivity and adaptability. 

The Raiders came at us tonight with a lot of emotion and vocal energy. After big points, they would yell to one another. They would creep toward the middle of the net, looking for timid shots that they could pound away for winners (or errors). They took away the easy shots and made us finish the points past them. This was not always an easy task, because we have sometimes started our matches too timidly. But what a chance it was for us to adapt. To find new solutions, to practice new shots. To move onward. To move forward.

Because the scorelines were bleak (1-6, 0-6 or 1-6, 1-6), there was the temptation to be negative about the experience. To drop our shoulders and heads and clench our fists at ourselves, or to look around and point fingers. Or it could be an opportunity to encourage one another, to find the parts of someone else's match that went well and offer them praise. Or to find a stroke or pattern that we performed well. A place to stand on and build from. A sincere strength from which to move onward, to push forward.

And finally, we weren't blind to the fact that the Raiders were the better team. But what we do is stay positive. As we talked about during a devotional at practice, positive doesn't mean pretending everything is okay. It's not great that we got beaten easily :-) Being positive is however is about expecting a hopeful change. Change that is moving in the right direction. Change going onward, forward. 

This is who we've chosen to be as a team. And so we'll take this opportunity! I'll highlight some great moments, and we'll adapt, encourage and keep positive about it.

JV Recap

The JV match was a lot closer than the varsity, in both the final team score and in the individual matches. Despite a final score of 4-3 for the Raiders, the team played excellent tennis. We were especially committed to competing, maybe even being too hard on ourselves at different points. 

Josiah played an excellent match. After a doubles victory on Monday, we slotted into a singles slot and mixed up his topspin and slice. His opponent was very consistent, choosing to keep most balls back toward the center of the court. The game became about who could make the other miss first, and it was a really fun match to watch. Unfortunately, in this close one, Josiah lost 6-8.

Justin played another great singles match, but in this one Justin was able to come out the winner. It was Justin's first match of the season, because Jimtown didn't have enough players on Monday. Justin has a willingness to move to the ball, and then great consistent groundstrokes. He put so many balls in play that it made it difficult for his opponent, and he got an 8-1 win.

Ian struggled with his consistency in his singles match, but began to turn it around playing a doubles match. Teaming up with Tristan, the pair would go through spurts of good solid play where they forced errors from the Raiders. But then they would often become timid, and the Raiders would dominate, as Tristan and Ian looked a little helpless and dropped lots of mishit shots in the net. In tennis, we can get scared like this and tighten up. When we do, we try to swing slower or hit tentatively. This usually makes things worse. I reminded Ian and Tristan that if they kept hitting timidly, they would lose and they would be very frustrated. But if they took their shots, swung through with looseness and confidence, they might still lose - but they would have nothing to be frustrated about. They would have played their best. So Ian and Tristan went back out and swung loose and free, and amazingly won the rest of the games in their match.

Tristan had struggled with that consistency of confidence in his first match too, with Jacoby. Jacoby got a second attempt as well, playing with Keagan. And the two of them exuded confidence and energy. I loved watching them patrol the net and cut off the middle. Keagan's groundstrokes were consistent and Jacoby covered the court well. It ended in an 8-3 win for the Bruins.

Emerson and Adam also started strong in their doubles match. Their consistency was a strength and their opponent's weakness. As the match wore on, the Raiders started to increase the power of their serves - and to get more of them in. Emerson and Adam kept it close, but lost 5-8. 

So the JV match was a great experience. We learned to go after our shots, to move, and to stay confident. 

Moments of Joy
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 :-)

Breece's crosscourt backhands

Breece consistently has moments of brilliance in his matches. At Angola, it was his serves. Against Jimtown, it was passing shots. Against Northridge, it was his crosscourt backhand. When he moved and hit, moved and hit, Breece would often line up a killer crosscourt shot. It was really beautiful to watch.

Tristan's ace

When I told Ian and Tristan to play loose, it was going into Tristan's serve. I told him to start the next game going for his serve, to let loose and swing hard. He did. Tristan walked up confidently and smacked an ace out wide past his opponent's forehand. 

Leininger's determination

Sometimes, the beautiful things aren't one moment, but a series of moments that shows you a pattern. Jacob Leininger showed a pattern of determination against Northridge that was beautiful and inspiring. Throughout his match, Jacob played long, epic games. Games that went to deuce multiple times. Often times, Jacob would lose the first point of deuce and have the advantage against him. But again and again, he would force it back to deuce. It was inspiring to see him never give up.

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.

Cheering on the last matches

While Northridge did lots of cheering and shouting during the varsity match, I was really proud of our guys when it came to the final matches. Our team all gathered around to watch Keagan, Jacoby, Ian and Tristan finish off their wins. We cheered and encouraged and were really positive with these JV matches both when they did good things, or things that we shall "never speak of again." It was so fun to watch the cheers going up for our players, something I hope to continue to see!

Moment of Intention

This is a space where I will offer a short prayer for the team.

God, I'm grateful for each opportunity to watch the team grow. I'm grateful for the things that individuals were able to learn from their matches last night. I'm grateful for the positives that we get to embrace with real hope. But I'm most grateful for the way the guys were able to be encouragers. These guys want the best for each other, and I'm glad I get to be a part of it. Thanks for Your Spirit, and the way it produces goodness and kindness among this team. Give us true joy as well. Amen.

Scores

Varsity

#1S - Cameron Heinisch - 1-6, 0-6 - Brendan LaCounte

#2S - Breece Erickson - 1-6, 1-6 - Brandon Lomas

#3S - Jacob Leininger - 1-6, 1-6 - Nolan Mellott

#1D - Austin Shenk/Matthew Dyck - 2-6, 1-6 - Evan Nay/Collin Seegert

#2D - Jacob Shank/Noah Schrock - 1-6, 0-6 - Kaleb Ellis/Zak Martin

Junior Varsity

#1SJV - Josiah Schlabach - 6-8 - Elijah Shell

#2SJV - Ian McHugh - 1-8 - Carter Krizmanick

#3SJV - Justin Hochstedler - 8-1 - Josh Miller

#1DJV - Tristan Mast/Jacoby Reinhardt - 4-8 - Harry Brown/Mason Mann

#2DJV - Adam Siemens-Rhodes/Emerson Landis - 5-8 - Mason Bales/Will Gingrich

#3DJV - Tristan Mast/Ian McHugh - 8-6 - Trevor Tompkins/Lucas Wensel

#4DJV - Jacoby Reinhardt/Keagan Meyer - 8-3 - Aden Yi/Gavin Mullins

Northridge Match Report

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VARSITY MATCH REPORT: Northridge 4, Bethany Christian 1

Tonight was a really good match for the Bruin varsity. Unlike our Jimtown match, which left us with a lot of unknowns because we hadn't played our shots with much confidence, this match began to give us a blueprint of how to move forward in our season.

At #1S, Liam played with a lot of grit and heart. Playing against a powerful junior in Gabe Rodino, Liam used a lot of variety in his shots to mix up Rodino, pull him up to the net, and then try to find ways over and around him. Many times, this worked, as Liam found angles and lobs that slightly put his opponent's stroke off. More times though, Rodino finished off the point. Northridge won 6-3, 6-3, but this match showed Liam that he'll need to develop a bit of offense to go with his counterpunching.

At #2S, Caleb played a really talented sophomore in Cooper Tavernier. I really liked watching Tavernier play, he was smooth and powerful, and he destroyed any short ball. However, Caleb learned the importance of variety... as well as seeing a way to work forward and finish the short ball.

At #3S, Philip played a masterpiece of a match. After losing a tight first set, Philip responded by jumping out to a second set lead. Though it stayed close, Philip experienced what it means to stay loose in big points and stay with a working strategy. Right until the end (with a few tight moments), Philip kept his energy and was very coachable in finding a comeback win for the ages. I was so proud of the way that Philip used his shadow swings, stretched and moved between points to keep energy, and played in a way that really shows the team what a leader looks like.

At #1D, Nathan and Jonah went back to playing simple, aggressive tennis. They didn't go for too much but played really smart shots to really smart spots. This kept them right in the match. Unfortunately, it didn't quite get them over the edge. They learned that they will have to counter the big shots of their opponents with important shots of their own. It is so important to stay loose and respond.

And at #2D, Chris and Braden played a match that should have been closer. Too many times though Chris and Braden weren't quite ready for the next ball, and therefore couldn't get a solid shot. Anticipation is a crucial element of doubles, and one that you can practice. That's what we will do.

So, despite a loss, the varsity each has a road forward with 5 weeks of the season to follow that road. Here we go!

JV MATCH REPORT: Northridge JV 4, Bethany Christian JV 1

I have to begin this match report with the best JV shot I've ever seen. In the middle of Tyson and Austin's #1DJV match, their opponents looped a backspinning ball toward the right sideline and near the net. It was very high, and it bounced on the outside of the doubles sideline. It spun back between the nets post of our 2nd and 3rd court, to the Northridge side of the net. Tyson sprinted forward to try to get to the ball before it crossed that invisible line, but couldn't get there. As he lunged forward, he slammed the ball around the net post and down into the Northridge side of the court. The Northridge players looked confused, but the Raider coach acknowledged immediately, "That's Bethany's point." It was awesome, it was the rare instance where you can cross over and hit the ball on your opponent's side of the net, because it has already bounced or your side. One of the best points I've ever seen!

And that was a good theme at the JV level, really good points and shots but not consistently enough to win the matches. At #2SJV, Josh again couldn't find his way to compete until late in the match. But then played an all out battle against his Raider foe. Despite starting down 5-0, Josh tied the last six games 3-3, and those six games probably took 45 minutes because they were so well contested.

Matthew Dyck also started out down in his match, but then figured out his forehand. He really controlled points well with that, until his opponent approached the net or found Matthew's backhand. Joseph also had a match where he controlled most of the shots, but then couldn't quite find the finishing ball. Josiah really played good first balls of each point, serves or forehand returns, but then struggled when those got returned. And Sam had great movement, great positioning, but couldn't quite connect.

Even in Austin and Tyson's winning effort at #1DJV, which was awesome, there were moments that things didn't connect.

Again, this just shows that we are learning and improving, but not surprisingly we are not all the way there yet. In time, brothers, in time.

IT WAS ENOUGH
It was enough to see the progress tonight. Most positions played with much more confidence, even when the score wasn't going their way. And we focused much more on how we were going to play, what we could control, rather than being distracted by the things we can't control. It was enough to make that progress.

YOU ARE BROTHERS
You are brothers. So many moments last night continued to affirm this. Everybody standing around at the end and cheering Philip on to victory. The amount of people who were really focused on Austin and Tyson match. But my favorite moment came in the middle of the JV matches when Matthew was getting ready for a point and looked down the court to see Austin getting ready to serve. From two courts down, Matthew yelled, "Let's go Austin!" It was completely unprovoked encouragement. And Austin quickly echoed it back, "Here we go, Matthew!" I love that stuff. I love seeing you guys excited for each other. You are brothers.

I AM GRATEFUL

I am grateful for...
- Liam's lobs.

- Caleb's patience.

- Philip's belief.

- Nathan's volleys.

- Jonah's determination.

- Braden's serve.

- Chris's passion.

- Joseph's listening.

- Josh's desire to improve.

- Matthew's forehand.

- Tyson's quickness.

- Austin's improvement.

- Josiah's forehand.

- Sam's focus.

I saw each of those things at their best during times of your matches tonight. I am grateful for the night's where we bring our best.

A PRAYER
God, tonight was beautiful. We didn't win, but it was fun to compete with this team. Thanks for players who are better than us that show us the way forward. Thanks for teammates who lift us up with their cheers. Thanks even more for those who lift us up in prayer. May we continue to see ourselves as You see us, and may we see tennis for the gift that it is. Thanks!

SCORES
Varsity
#1S - Liam Bradford - 3-6, 3-6 - Gabe Rodino (11)
#2S - Caleb Shenk - 1-6, 0-6 - Cooper Tavernier (10)
#3S - Philip Krabill - 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 - Cameron Henry (10)
#1D - Jonah Farran/Nathan Oostland - 4-6, 4-6 - Brant Brouillette (12)/Avery Mantyla (11)
#2D - Christopher Craw/Braden Bohn - 1-6, 1-6 - Cole Miller (11)/Evan Nay (9)

Junior Varsity
#1SJV - Joseph Mounsithiraj - 1-8 - Aaron Cripe (10)

#2SJV - Josh Cartwright - 3-8 - Grant Martin (10)

#3SJV - Matthew Dyck - 4-8 - Collin Seegert (9)

#1DJV - Tyson Miller/Austin Shenk - 8-5 - Tyler Crisp (10)/Jake Welker (9)

#2DJV - Sam Setiawan/Josiah Schlabach - 1-6 - Tyler Crisp (10)/Jake Welker (9)

Climbing Report 2: Northridge

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Varsity Match Summary

As we got ready to play at Northridge, a cloud rolled in. One cloud. It flung a couple huge drops on the court, but looked like it would blow past, until it opened up and rained for 5 minutes. That was how our day went. At first, Jacob Woolace, who was going to play varsity singles tonight, had a sore ab muscle. Just one problem, so no problem. He'd stretch and everything would be okay :-) Maybe we'd have to switch him to doubles but...

Then the skies broke open and it started raining. Jacob didn't feel any better and the trainer said no playing. Will, who was slotted to play #3S, had a back spasm. So that took two singles players out of the lineup. Then, as the warmup ended, Caleb let me know that his back hurt so much he couldn't move well. And it was starting to seem like this was going to be a never ending bummer of a night.

And there's really no denying that our singles suffered from the injuries. Caleb looked nothing like his energetic and active match yesterday. With reduced movement, he couldn't get the same hits on the ball, struggled to split step, and couldn't capture a game. With Jacob and Will's absence, we moved the lineup around a bit and put others in their spot - and we didn't win very many games.

But there were still inspiring moments. Joel Yoder stepped in at #3S and played an exceptional match. Against a very talented freshman, who had every textbook shot in the book in his arsenal, Joel was able to keep points alive. Joel was able to be in control with his forehand. Joel showed incredible stick-to-itiveness.

But while the singles struggled, the doubles really came alive. Listening to my mantra of simple and aggressive tennis, Dustin and Jonathon rallied from 0-3 in the first set to truly take control of their match. With good hands, great lobs, and a wide array of other well placed shots, they fought their way to a 7-5, 6-2 win.

The #2D match was the highlight of the night, with Jonah and Nathan playing such solid doubles. I was so pleased to see them make adjustments to the way that I coached. Something we'll continue looking at in practice is our ability to adapt to situations, to change. Nathan and Jonah played a great first set, taking advantage of errors that the Northridge team made. So our Bruin #2D's just kept the ball in play and attacked the net. But in the second set, we started to make an abundance of errors. So going to a third set, we needed to mentally come back, be ready, start anew.

And we did, but then we had to battle a new enemy - nerves. As the match drew to its close, Jonah and Nathan were both feeling the nerves. But they listened to my advice for dealing with those nerves. When feeling under pressure, you have to get your muscles loose by moving. They did that, jumping around the baseline between points. Then, you have to imagine what you are going to do in that point, the awesome shot you will hit. Finally, you have to swing through those shots, even if you are nervous to do so. At the end, it was these things that pulled out the big games for Nathan and Jonah, with Nathan holding serve twice to seal a 7-5 victory in the third set. 

So, we lost 3-2. But the last match to come off the courts was the inspiring #2D match, which left me feeling really good about where the team might go... and the example that Nathan and Jonah had just showed us as they climbed up the ladder.

JV Match Summary
It's a tiring beginning of the year. This morning, I got up at 4:45 to run to Kroger and get popcorn for a class lesson today. My back is sore with the tension of coaching two long tennis matches in 2 days. My brain is tired from trying to keep track of tennis schedule and teaching schedule.

I can't even imagine how it is for you guys who are actually playing in these matches.

I mention this because the word I'd use to describe most of our JV last night is "drained." Against Jimtown, we looked excited and ready. Our body language, even in our defeats, was positive and hopeful. Tonight against Northridge, we didn't really see that. And it's easy to understand why.

Despite that, there were definitely some good matches and moments across the JV. Some I'll cover below, but I'll just point out that Braden Bohn gave great fight. In a match against a older, stronger player, Braden kept in it. And at the end of the match, I challenged Braden to try a new strategy. He won 3 straight games when he put that strategy into action. I was inspired to see that effort.

Both our #2D and #4D came away with wins on the evening, and I was glad to see that for them. In some of the doubles losses, there was great pieces. Tyson had excellent net movement, Philip was stroking the shots well, Braydon stuck with it and stayed positive.

But in general, we're going to want to learn from this match, and figure out how to create more energy in the matches where we don't feel it. More about that tonight at practice!


Climbing Report (Great Moments of the Match)
For the most part, we'll be having 5 different great moments of the match. As we go up, these moments will more and more exemplify what I hope our team will be like. In other words, the 1st rung and 2nd rungs might just be cool moments, but the top rungs are examples of the type of tennis we should be moving toward.

1st Rung - Grit. Late in the third set, with the score tied at 3-3, Nathan and Jonah went down 15-40. In that game, Jonah got pushed way off the court to his right, and stroked the ball back over the net. But it was cut off by the Raider net man, sending it right back down the middle. Jonah sprinted to his left and lunged out to get the ball with an awkward backhand. It lobbed over the net man, and kept the point alive! Eventually, #2D won the point and kept the game alive. They then won the next three points in a row to take the lead, 4-3, in the final set. All kept alive by Jonah's grit and hustle.

2nd Rung -  Improving strokes. I love to see the way that each JV player, especially the freshman, are starting to improve their strokes. I saw that most tonight in Joseph Mounsithiraj. Joseph's serve continue to gain consistency and power. His forehand continues to become more and more of a weapon. Both were used to great effect in his match tonight.

3rd Rung - Playing your best. Joel was suddenly promoted to #3S tonight, after playing #1DJV on Monday. Not that he didn't deserve to play there, but it was a sudden move. But rather than get freaked out, Joel simply committed to hitting his best shots. He was realistic about his match with me at the fence, and then worked his tail off to win points. After the match, he had nothing to be ashamed about. He played great, and could smile like crazy.

4th Rung - Confidence under pressure. Nathan and Jonah had plenty of pressure in their match. But I loved how they shook this off, literally bouncing up and down and shaking their arms. I loved how they stayed ready to win their match, rather than just hoping that the other team would do things to lose the match. A great example of this was in Nathan's second to last service game. Nathan struggled with double faults in the game, but was mixing them in with big serves. So Jonah wasn't doing much. But even in the pressure of the match, Jonah stayed ready. In the last two points of the game, Jonah put away volleys that hung across the net, and that helped give the Bruins the 5-3 lead in the match. It a great job staying focused when it was difficult.

5th Rung - Doing the honorable thing. In the #1D match, we were serving and were down 30-40. A long point ensued, and Logan Corns of Northridge was drawn off the right hand corner of the court where a ball from the #2D match had accidentally rolled. With correct judgment, Eric Firstenberger of the Raiders called a "let" as the ball was in his partner's way. However, the call came as Dustin was hitting the ball and Dustin hit the ball out - which would have meant that Northridge would have won the game. A "let" meant replaying the point. Jonathon thought he had heard the let call, so he asked. It would have been so easy to lie here, and say that no "let" call had been made. But Eric Firstenberger honestly said he had made the "let" call and that the point had to be replayed. Even when examples of outstanding leadership come from other teams, I think we should be inspired by them. It was a very upstanding move to be honest at a tempting time.

Scores
Varsity
#1S - Caleb Shenk - 0-6, 0-3 - Simon Grevengoed (12)
#2S - Liam Bradford - 0-6, 0-6 - Gabe Rodino (10)
#3S - Joel Yoder - 1-6, 1-6 - Cooper Tavrnier (9)
#1D - Dustin Miller/Jonathon Yousey - 7-5, 6-2 - Logan Corns (12)/Eric Firstenberger (12)
#2D - Jonah Farran/Nathan Oostland - 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 - Brant Brouillette (11)/Avery Mantyla (10)

Junior Varsity
#1SJV - Braden Bohn - 5-8 - Connor Glenn (12)
#2SJV - Chris Craw - 2-8 - Cameron Henry (9)
#1DJV - Braydon Harshberger/Philip Krabill - 2-8 - Nick Garcia (12)/Aaron Cripe (9)
#2DJV - Tommy Nguyen/Joseph Mounsithiraj - 8-1 - Tyler Crisp (9)/Chris Peters (9)
#3DJV - Tyson Miller/Aaron Shenk - 0-8 - Nick Garcia (12)/Aaron Cripe (9)
#4DJV - Kameron Branum/Theo Siemens-Rhodes - 8-2 - Tyler Crisp (9)/Chris Peters (9)