By RYAN WALKER
It didn’t seem like a close match early on, but the Bluffton Tigers made Wednesday’s tennis match with Adams Central interesting.
Bluffton was down 3-0 quickly, falling at No. 1 and No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles to its conference foe. Strong performances by No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles had them coming back to eventually lose 3-2.
Because of the timing of the matches, the Jets were able to secure a victory in those first three games, but in the end, Bluffton had an encouraging finish.
Head coach Spencer Schwartz highlighted the games the Tigers lost to what he calls the best team in the ACAC, slightly above Jay County.
“My one doubles team is a sophomore and a freshman, and they’re still just trying to figure out what’s going on,” he said about Hazel Pfister and Sophie Eisenhut.
The two are playing for the first time with one another and as doubles players in the varsity realm. Pfister spent all of last season playing singles, and Eisenhut is a freshman. But the two are playing like they’ve done it for multiple seasons now, and beat the Jets’ top doubles pair, and they did it in sweeping fashion 2-0.
“We’re four matches in after tonight, and I already see the confidence skyrocketing,” Schwartz said. “They’re talking. They’re taking care of the ball. They want everything and they want to put it away and they want to beat everybody.”
In the other win, Gretchen Crist topped Macy McClure 6-3, 6-4 in two sets as well. Crist spent time at No. 2 singles last year, but is trying a new role and took a step back.
Because of her experience and skill, Crist has transitioned well to the position. The likely scenario for teams is to place their third-best singles player in this spot rather than No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Since Crist managed No. 2 singles well last year, she is an asset to win a crucial point in the lineup. At the end of the day, all points count the same regardless of where in the lineup.
“Typically, when you get down to the lower end of the lineup, three singles is viewed a little bit more maybe as a weakness, and that’s a very important spot to win,” Schwartz recognized. “I want to have somebody with the experience that she’s had there at three singles to kind of secure that spot up. That’s great. That’s what we need on this team.”
Crist is the only senior on the varsity roster for the Tigers. As Schwartz and his bunch develop, Bluffton has a chance to build itself into a strong program in his second year.
Even with the excitement of returning six of the seven starters to next year, he understands this year is just as important and not to look down the road to next year.
“I always try and dangle that out in front a little bit, but I also don’t like to look too far past the season that we’re in with this group that I have,” Schwartz said. “I feel like if we show up and play our best tennis.” we can beat anybody we go up against.”
Bluffton will be at New Haven at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18.
ryan@news-banner.com
Individual results:
• Hillary Tobias (AC) defeated Emma Schwartz 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
• Melanie Bertsch (AC) defeated Eve Corkwell 6-2. 6-1 No. 2 singles.
• Gretchen Crist (B) defeated Macy McClure 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 singles.
• Hazel Pfister and Sophie Eisenhut (B) defeated Alaina Bertsch and Alayna McCullough 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles.
• Anna Leyse and Alexa Brotherton (AC) defeated Kinzie Fiechter and Emily Drayer 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.
Adams Central took the junior varsity match 8-2.
JV results
• MaKayla Ringger (AC) defeated Gissel Martinez 6-1.
• Josie Shoaf (AC) defeated Isla Gibson 6-3.
• Kayva Ashliman (AC) defeated Madison Duncan 6-3.
• Alexis Grover and Avery Hunt (B) defeated Adrienne Johnson and Jayla Biberstine 6-3.
• Alyssa Shearer (AC) and Ella Bluhm defeated Adrienne Johnson and Jayla Biberstine 6-4.
• Ellie Lengerich and Myah Ripple (AC) defeated Madison Murray and Zoey Schmidt 6-0.
• Haley Passwaters and Alyssa Shearer (AC) defeated Aleeah Grover and Anna Zurcher 7-6 (7-5).
• Ellie Lengrich and Myah Ripple (AC) defeated Kenley Falk and Briell Coratti 6-1.
• Isabella Rhoderrick and Olga Jardan (B) defeated Lexie Hamilton and Fatma Ahmed 6-1.
• Adrienne Johnson and Jayla Biberstine (AC) defeated Zainab Ameen and Charos Anorboeva 6-0.
