Lady Eagles top Lady Pilgrims in outdoor/indoor match
CULVER — Marshall County high school girls tennis stalwarts Plymouth and Culver Girls Academy faced off Friday, giving each program a read on where things stand early in the season.
Led by a quick start and a doubles sweep, it was the Lady Eagles who came away with the 4-1 victory over the Lady Pilgrims at the Gable Tennis Complex. The entire complex was needed too, as the contest started outdoors under extremely windy conditions then moved inside when rain came as well after the first hour and the last four matches were completed there.
“It’s always a tough match with Plymouth,” said CGA head coach Sam Concannon, whose lineup looks a lot different than a year ago thanks to graduation.
This likely is the first of two meetings between these rivals as CGA moves into the same sectional as PHS for the first time ever and will host.
CGA’S new No. 1 singles player, sophomore Meera Desai, made sure her match was completed outside by winning 12 straight games for the first team point.
“She played really well,” added Concannon. “She’s helped all the players but she can get better. She has a good opportunity to do well individually as well as with the team.”
The match at No. 2 singles was much closer than the final score indicated, but freshman Winnie Ma won 12 of the 14 games and provided the match-clinching point as it came shortly after the No. 2 doubles team of Dani Ruiz Gonzalez and Gilii Devilliers defeated Plymouth’s Alivia Kizer and Lena Houin in straight sets. The PHS duo led 3-2 in the first set, but from there, the CGA pair took 10 of the next 13 games.