Lady Pilgrims flip the script, down CGA 3-2
PLYMOUTH — Fourth time is the charm?
Plymouth High School’s girls tennis team had its fourth match of the week Friday and each time the final score was 3-2. Two things were different yesterday though: there was no trip on a yellow school bus to get there and the Lady Pilgrims were on the winning side of the outcome after defeating Culver Girls Academy at the Mary Beth Hunter Tennis Complex.
“We’ve had a long week,” admitted PHS head coach Brad Haeck. “We had faced three good teams already, then another one in CGA. There are positives and negatives about playing this many matches to start the year. You get to see what you’re up against, but you don’t get any practice time. We’re working through our inexperience as we’re going. It’s a struggle at times, but it was nice to have a home match and winning was a good way to end our dual matches this week.”
Plymouth got on the board first when Aubrey Vervynckt defeated Maya Jyothinagaram without losing a game in the Allalphabet match at No. 2 singles.
“Aubrey is a tough two and will give us a good chance to win that point every time,” said Haeck. “She did her thing and got off the court pretty quickly.”
PHS secured the second team point when Bella Kain won seven out of eight games during the middle of the No. 3 singles match and won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
“We’re working on some stuff with Bella and she’s starting to incorporate that into her matches,” added Haeck. “We’re trying to get her to have easier points instead of long, drawn out points. She’s on the right path.”
The next court to finish was the other singles match where impressive CGA sophomore Quinn Vazquez used her powerful serve and groundstrokes to win in straight sets.
“Quinn is new for us,” said CGA head coach Jessica Owens. “She has some great strokes and great form, but I’m happy with her as a person too. She’s unbelievably teachable, as well as positive and humble.”
Plymouth’s No. 1 doubles pair of Taylor Delp and Ellie Jones had the match-clinching point when they won a pair of 6-4 sets. The duo came back from being down 3-0 in the second set to end the match.
“We showed some improvement there the last couple of days,” continued Haeck. “We’re trying to get them to be more aggressive and play the style we want to play. Some things are starting to click with them and they’re having fun doing it. It should be fun. They are two good athletes and we can utilize that on the court. They did a good job of coming back in the second set; not having to go to a third and putting pressure on the No. 2 doubles team was important.”
The last match to conclude was a three-setter at No. 2 doubles. After losing the first set 7-5, CGA’S Becky Young and Ava Zalduendo came back to win two close sets for the Lady Eagles’ final team point.
“That was a real good comeback,” Owens said of the match that lasted twoand-a-half hours. “I’m really proud of them, not just for the win, but this is the first time they have played a competitive match together. I’m happy with how they meshed together. I’m happy with our whole lineup. We had some losses, but it’s a learning experience and I saw some improvement from our first match (Tuesday vs. Valparaiso, the day after Plymouth faced Valpo).
The Lady Pilgrims’ busy week continues with the eight-team Plymouth Invitational today at the Mary Beth Hunter Tennis Complex beginning at 9:30 a.m. CGA’S plays Laporte today at home starting at 1 p.m.
• PLYMOUTH 3, CGA 2
At Plymouth SINGLES: 1. Quinn Vazquez (CGA) def. Miranda German (P) 6-2, 6-4; 2. Aubrey Vervynckt (P) def. Maya Jyothinagaram (CGA) 6-0, 6-0; 3. Bella Kain (P) def. Sade Barrett (CGA) 6-2, 6-3; DOUBLES: 1. Ellie Jones/taylor Delp (P) def. Luci Landry/felisa Fuentes (CGA) 6-4, 6-4; 2. Becky Young/ava Zalduendo (CGA) def. Cassidy Riddle/annie Plothow (P) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4