By Staff for ww.mcpherson-county-ks.com
MCPHERSON – In a six-team junior varsity invitational at home, the McPherson junior varsity girls tennis team placed third out of six teams on Tuesday.
As a team the Lady Bullpups finished with 12 points for third behind first-place Andover with 19 and second-place Goddard Eisenhower with 15. Other teams competing were Newton, Hutchinson, and Haysville/Campus.
“In our second home JV meet of the season we decided to mix up positions a little bit,” noted junior varsity coach Ricardo Sanchez. “The players did a great job of adjusting to their new roles. Part of our emphasis is always to develop well rounded players and that includes having players be able to step onto the singles or doubles court and be ready to compete.”
The highest placement for McPherson came from the doubles division where the number one doubles tandem of Avery Eveland and Erin Olson as well as the number two doubles duo of Jordan Martens and Jadin Nowell both went 2-1 for the day to place second in both groups.
Speaking of his doubles tandems, coach Sanchez said, “The doubles team of Erin (Olson) and Avery (Eveland) continued their strong doubles play and found themselves in another championship match where they fell just short against a very good Andover team. As these two learn to be more aggressive, they will be a tough matchup against anyone. Our other doubles team of Jordan (Martens) and Jadin (Nowell) switched from singles over to doubles and showed a lot of potential. Down 0-3 against Hutchinson, these two rattled off six straight games to win the match 6-3. Regardless of singles or doubles, as these two learn to move and anticipate on the court they will find it easier to construct points.”
McPherson had three junior varsity single players with Kennedy Tully going 2-1 and placing third in number one singles while Ady Crocker went 1-2 to finish fifth and Abilene Frye went 0-3 and placed sixth.
Coach Sanchez finished off his post-meet reflections by adding, “Kennedy (Tully), Ady (Crocker), and Abilene (Frye) all spent the first few weeks focused on doubles play but made the switch over to singles today. Kennedy dropped a tough match against Goddard Eisenhower in pool play but bounced back strong in the third-place match where she showed how good of a singles player, she is by using the entire court to her advantage and wounding her opponent early on rallies. Ady and Abilene filled in for us today in singles and gained a lot of experience as single play gives players a lot of reps hitting their groundstrokes. Whether they play singles or doubles, the more hitting they get will only benefit them in the long run.”
On Thursday, September 8 the Junior Varsity Lady Bullpups will be back on the competitive court when they travel to Buhler for the eight-team Buhler Junior Varsity Invitational.
MCPHERSON JUNIOR VARSITY LADY BULLPUP TENNIS at home Tuesday
Team Standings: 1. Andover 19; 2. Goddard Eisenhower 15; 3. LADY BULLPUPS 12; 4. Newton 10; 5. Hutchinson 8; 6. Haysville/Campus 0.
JV LADY BULLPUP INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
#1 SINGLES: Kennedy Tully finished 2-1 and placed 3rd.
#2 SINGLES: Ady Crocker finished 1-2 and placed 5th.
#2 SINGLES: Abilene Frye finished 0-3 and placed 6th.
#1 DOUBLES: Avery Eveland/Erin Olson finished 2-1 and placed 2nd.
#2 DOUBLES: Jordan Martens/Jadin Nowell finished 2-1 and placed 2nd.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)