Tiger Cubs close season at sectional

Friday, May 22, 2009
Greencastle sophomore Katie Farris sends a ball back to her opponent Hannah Pond during the first set of Thursday's sectional action. The Tiger Cubs fell to Northview 5-0.

BRAZIL -- The season for the Greencastle girls tennis team came to an end Thursday when they were defeated by Northview 5-0 in the Northview sectional.

The Knights were able to get up early on the Tiger Cubs and were able to capitalize on their momentum to get the win.

Greencastle's young cast of players battled throughout their matches and showed that the future looks bright for the GHS tennis program.

"We're a very young team and I'm very proud," GHS head coach Sally Martin said. "They all stepped into varsity -- they had not played it before -- and look what they did. We get them all back except Bridget (Tucker). We have a whole lot on junior varsity that want to work in the off-season. We'll be back."

Northview's Allie Melega downed Katie Collins 6-3 and 6-1, while teammate Ali Rentshler defeated Kate Babington 6-1 and 6-3.

After dropping her first game 6-1, Greencastle's Katie Farris battled back and gave Hannah Pond everything she had. Gone were the miscues from the first game, replaced by quick cross shots and precision placed lob shots that kept her in the match. Farris fought, but ultimately fell 6-4 in the second set to drop the match.

Greencastle's best shot for a win came in the No. 2 doubles. The team of Bridget Tucker and Emalie McClain jumped out quickly and took game one 6-2 over the Knights' Allison Stearley and Kaci Kehrt.

In the second game, they were within reach of closing the match out, but Stearley and Kehrt fought and earned the win 7-5. Down to the third and final game, Greencastle was out of steam.

Tucker and McClain lost their final game 6-2 to drop the match.

In No. 1 singles action, Hilary Schroeder and Lauren Kenny fell to Northview's Bonnie Froderman and Lauren Reberger 6-2 and 6-4.

Martin explained the strength of her team is that each of them possesses different styles. She spoke about how Tucker and McClain are two gutsy players who compliment each other and are able to dig in and provided some unexpected wins.

"Hilary (Schroeder) and Lauren (Kinney) have struggled through the year, but they've been working really hard and they've come a long way," Martin said. "My speech to them at the beginning of the year was that every individual has a goal, we respect each individual for the goal and we want them to see that they've reached, at least some of the progression to make the main goal; not me see it, them see it. I think they were seeing it.

"Katie Farris had a tough night last night. She's very coachable and she started to pull things and do things I was telling her to do. Kate Babington slips into a zone and she's able to keep going and keep in a match. There's not much difference between the three of them and Collins has progressed so far, that I can't say anymore about all of them," she concluded.

At Northview

Northview 5, Greencastle 0

Singles

Melega (NV) def. Collins (GHS) 6-3, 6-1; Rentschler (NV) def. Babington (GHS) 6-1, 6-3; Pond (NV) def. Farris (GHS) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles

Froderman/Reberger (NV) def. Schroeder/Kenny (GHS) 6-2, 6-4; Stearly/Kehrt (NV) def. Tucker/McClain (GHS) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2