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Greencastle defeats South in tennis opener for each squad
The Greencastle girls' tennis team sent the South Putnam Eagles home with a 3-2 loss Tuesday night with its No. 1 seeds providing the punch.
Kelsey Hennette started things off for Greencastle with a big win over South's Shelley Douglass 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 1 singles match.
"Kelsey is just a good athlete," coach Trish Lowe. "She's determined to improve her game. Not only did she play basketball this winter, she also worked on her (tennis) game."
South Putnam coach John Briones said nerves could have played a factor in the No. 1 singles loss but also attributed the loss to a very good opponent.
"She was really nervous about this match," Briones commented. "Throughout the match, she was too cautious.
"Kelsey's not a power player but very consistent and can put the ball where she wants it. Shelley went up against a very good opponent," he said.
Greencastle also captured the No. 1 doubles match as Kayla Birt and Savannah Provine defeated the Eagles Chelsea Clark and Samantha Callahan 6-2, 6-3 to grab another victory for the Tiger Cubs. Their ability to work as a cohesive unit was a deciding factor in the match.
"They played doubles together last year," Lowe commented. "Both are intelligent and like the strategy of doubles play.
"Savannah started as a singles player but I thought she needed some support. She needed a team to play with and she's taken that change and run with it."
The Tiger Cubs also notched a win in the No. 3 singles when Emma Kaiser downed Kaila Kirkman 6-2, 6-4 to give Greencastle its three wins on the evening.
For South Putnam, No. 2 singles player Whitney Warren withstood some early jitters to grab the victory against Tiger Cub Carol LaFoe 6-4, 6-1.
"She started really anxious, but in the second set she settled down and took control," Briones said.
Also bringing a win to the Eagles was the No. 2 doubles teams of Megan Criss and Cassie Davis who defeated Greencastle's Rachel Jackson and Ashley Watkins 6-2, 7-5.
"We played a really good game tonight," Briones said.
"This was a tight match to begin our season," Lowe said. "I am happy to walk away with the win.
"I look for much improvement in order to stay competitive with our upcoming opponents."
Greencastle also won the junior varsity contest, 4-3.
Greencastle hits the court tonight against Rockville Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at home, while South will go against Turkey Run tonight at home at 4:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Greencastle 3, South Putnam 2
Singles -- Hennette (GHS) def. Douglass (SP) 6-0, 6-2; Warren (SP) def. LaFoe (GHS) 6-4, 6-1; Kaiser (GHS) def. Kirkman (SP) 6-2, 6-4.
Doubles -- Birt/Provine (GHS) def. Clark/Callahan (SP) 6-2, 6-3; Criss/Davis (SP) def. Watkins/Jackson 6-2, 7-5.
Junior varsity results
Doubles -- Flint/Martin (GHS) def. Arnold/Ross (SP) 8-0; Karch/Collins (GHS) def. Nissen/Tudor (SP) 8-6; Ball/Babington (GHS) def. Minor/Trauner (SP) 8-5; Tucker/Elliot (GHS) def. McCammack/Brown (SP) 8-1; Arnold/Ross (SP) def. Schroeder/Holmes (GHS) 8-5; McCammack/Brown (SP) def. Kean/Moore (GHS) 8-3.
Next match -- Greencastle hits the court tonight against Rockville Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at home, while South will go against Turkey Run tonight at home at 4:30 p.m.