By RYAN WALKER
A strange finish to the No. 1 doubles match didn’t stop Bluffton from winning at home 3-1 over Union in girls’ tennis Monday.
After two-and-a-half hours at No. 1 doubles, rain briefly sprinkled down and forced the final varsity match to leave the court for a moment and take cover underneath the middle school’s balcony. A few minutes passed, and the rain stopped, but Union City had already taken off on the bus heading back home.
First-year head coach Spencer Schwartz wasn’t quite sure how to score it in the book but it was determined that the match was called off due to rain, and the Tigers won overall 3-1, according to boys’ veteran coach Robert Vanderkolk.
Nonetheless, Bluffton picked up the win, which hasn’t been the easiest to come by on a young, inexperienced team. Schwartz didn’t take that for granted and was pleased to do so on senior night for Karlie Brown, the lone senior.
“We played hard like we have been playing all year,” he said after the match. “At the beginning of the year, I think playing hard didn’t result in a ton of victories or even sets won, but it’s nice to see as the season’s progressed, our playing hard and stick with it results in a win. It’s a good feeling to get a win on our second to last home match, especially on senior night for our one senior.”
The Tigers got their first two points quickly by Hazel Pfister at No. 3 singles and the duo of Alexis Grover and Eve Corkwell at No. 2 doubles in two sets. The Indian’s win came from No. 2 singles shortly after.
Emma Schwartz at No. 1 singles lost the first set 1-6, then came back to win 7-5 and 6-4 to get Bluffton the official team win.
The Tigers started the season off in a slump on the wins and losses sheet, battling through the losses and improving each time and during the week in practice. The girls were amped up to begin the season, even willing to practice in the snow and cold during the preseason.
That excitement and ability to learn have been noticeable.
“From the beginning of the year to now, it has been massive improvement from attitude and playing their best,” Schwartz said. “Earlier tonight, one of our girls missed a shot, and she knew exactly what she did wrong, did a practice swing to feel what she should have done. At the beginning of the season, I didn’t see that one. Now, I’ve seen that a lot from the girls because they’re starting to know what they should have done, what they could have done, and next time they do that. It’s been nice to see that growth there.”
Not only has the team had some learning experience, but Schwartz did as well Monday night. He’s only been a part of the boys’ senior night, but not for the girls, and he had some work to do.
Assistant coaches Dharma Dynes and Ashlee Xayyachack bailed him out.
“I didn’t really understand how to plan it from the girls’ senior night — I’ve only been a part of the boys’ senior night. My two assistant coaches gave me a lot of help with that, he admitted. “The girls were all excited to celebrate Karlie, and then I was glad that we were able to win and she was able to win her JV match. So, that makes it nice.”
Full varsity results:
• Emma Schwartz (B) defeated Emily Evans (UC) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 in No. 1 singles.
• Camryn Fischer (UC) defeated Gretchen Crist (B) 6-3, 6-1 in No. 2 singles.
• Hazel Pfister (B) defeated Elizabeth Prinkey (UC) 6-0, 6-1.
• Alexis Grover and Eve Corkwell (B) and Shelby Arnold and Skylaris Denny (UC) were called due to rain in No. 1 doubles.
• Avery Hunt and Kinzie Fiechter (B) defeated Ashley Garrett and Lindsay Garett (UC) 6-1, 61 in No. 2 doubles.
Karlie Brown won the lone junior varsity match 8-6.
Bluffton will host Bellmont at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10.
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