Amazing Finish to the Regular Season

Wow, what a terrific final weekend to our conference schedule.  We needed one win to clinch the third seed and a spot in the conference tournament, so results were important, but we always talk about focusing on the process and I am so happy with how well this team has bought in, committed, and gotten stronger all year long.  It definitely paid off this weekend, with three great matches in two days to send us into conference knowing we're playing great tennis, but also that we've already accomplished so much this season.

After being sent off with awesome road care packages from our buddy swim team (thanks WC Swimming!) we drove to the Seattle/Tacoma area on Thursday afternoon, stopping for a wonderful meal in Yakima at Kate's house.  Thanks so much for fueling us up and sharing the warmth of your home Annie! 

Friday morning, we hit the courts at Robinswood Tennis Center where coach Jason Chapman has worked to build a very good community college team at Bellevue CC.  We wanted to get matches for everyone so we weren't at our strongest in terms of lineup, but we sent out a great team and Bellevue was super solid as they took it to us in some spots, but in most matches there were battles.  Some notable ones were two and three doubles as well as Olivia at 6 singles who was down 1-5, lost the first 5-7 then had to stop the match so we could be on time for our PLU match.  Hadley split sets at #5 losing a marathon 10-7 match tie break and I can't tell you how much her game is coming together.  No doubt the match of the day was at #1 singles where a very athletic and complete player in Anissa Bryant Swift went toe to toe with our three time all-American Elise.  Twitch dug deep to win the first set in a tiebreak, played amazing but lost in the second set as Anissa blended big offense with amazing defense before Elise took the match in a match tie break, it was really fun tennis all around with Maggie and Leah playing outside and the rest spread out inside.

Twitch had a great weekend in singles and doubles to lead us

So, we were definitely warmed up when we hit the outdoor courts at PLU for the first time in my tenure at Whitman.  With the same 1/2 doubles of Elise/Emily and Lizzy/Hannah and then Kate and Oliva at 3, we got the sweep 8-4, 8-2, and 8-4.  Up 3-0, Emily cruised 6-1,6-1 to extend the lead.  Maggie was down a set at #5 and composed herself to really fight out a good second set, losing it 5-7, but it was important for her to be able to rally and reset herself after the first set got away which was great to see.  After a strong first set, Lizzy had a strange stomach pain which limited her movement and she lost in three.  Kate was down a set at #2 and Elise at #1 and Hadley at #6 were both up a set so we were in a good position to clinch but PLU looked like they were gaining some momentum.  As the points and games at #1 got longer, Hadley rallied for a second set tiebreak to win at #6 6-3, 7-6 (4) to clinch the match; then Elise followed and finally Kate battled out the second set and the match tie break for a well fought and well deserved 7-2 win.  Leah and Olivia also played prosets and both players showed great confidence in their shots, working the points well and using their weapons smartly to both win.  We had a great day in tennis and the team deserves all the credit, but we were definitely aided by the support and healthy tasty snacks provided by Liz Bates, thanks!

With the #3 seed clinched and Alyssa still sitting out all weekend to make up individual match dates from the Fall National ITA tournament and the upcoming Ojai tournament, we knew that we could cruise into the conference tournament, or we could stick to our habits and really focus on the final match against a dangerous young PLU team who knocked off a shorthanded Willamette recently.

I can't say how happy I am with this final performance.  As a program grows you need to see the benefits of your hard work and belief in the team process.  Yesterday, that happened as we got out to a strong start in doubles winning at #1 with Elise and Em and #2 with Lizzy and Hannah.  #3 was a winnable match, but an experienced UPS team played the more solid and aggressive tennis to salvage an important point and keep the match close going into singles where they are much deeper than they were last year. 

Kate was a two time three set hero this weekend

As Elise efficiently got us up 3-1, they showed their depth winning at 3, 4 and 6 over Emily, Lizzy and Maggie in straight sets.  Em and Liz both struggled a bit after big doubles wins, but Maggie in a rematch of one of her first matches at #6 definitely played better tennis, but so did her opponent.  What was key to me was that all three players fought all the way through, keeping the match intensity and belief high.  This would have been an absolute easy time for us to fold, down 4-3 with the two matches on being Kate who lost the first 1-6 at #2 to Jenna Gerdsen and Hannah who lost a close first set 5-7 to Ada Yu at #5.  Both players kept their heads, played their tennis and enjoyed terrific support from their teammates.  You could feel the momentum as first HP hit a screaming backhand return winner to take the second set 6-4 and was up early in the third when Kate won her second 6-4.  Kate was on serve 0-1, 1-2 etc all the way to 3-4 when Hannah closed out her match 6-4 in the third in a game with probably a dozen deuces full of match points and points for 5-5.  Kate had just held for 4-4 so without time to celebrate Hannah's great win, all eyes moved to court 2 where the match would be decided.  Kate was just looking stronger and stronger as the match went on and she secured the break to go up 5-4 serving for the match where she won with one of the most convincing holds of the day from any court.   Sandwiched between KKP and HP, Had and Leah were able to get in valuable exhibition matches.

What a day, what a weekend, what a regular season.  I honestly can't imagine being more proud of what this group has done.  We certainly have room to improve, but both the quality of tennis and amazing team effort shows how much we've learned from the very challenging season we've had.

When I have a schedule for the NWC tournament this weekend at Whitworth, I'll send it out, but for now I'm going to enjoy the success of a wonderful season so far.

All our best,
Coach John and Whitman Women's Tennis