Hi all,
I absolutely have no excuse for not updating the blog during and after an amazing week in Texas. I won't recap each match in full detail, but I've posted some pics on flickr that I took and several Sandy (Morgan and Courtney's mom) took and we also took some video but uploading that is still beyond me.
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| Texas BBQ at the Lawless house |
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| SSTX Legends |
The week started a bit nervously for me from an organizational and competitive standpoint. Whitman has two week break and each year having some time off during the long season and with the academic rigor of Whitman has been great for the team. But this year it meant people flying into Austin from Washington, Northern California, Southern California, Maine, Washington DC and Hawaii!! Needless to say I was so relieved when everyone arrived safely, then we got lucky missing some thunderstorms and had a wonderful practice at St. Stephen's Episcopal School's Tennis Academy. As our hosts for the week, Carlos and his coaching staff were so welcoming to us and Mark and Sandy as our Austin parents were unbelievable, making Texas Hospitality something we will all remember fondly. The level at practice was so good that Seth and I were very fired up despite some ominous weather. Tensions were relieved, however, by a fun afternoon exploring Austin and an amazing dinner of Texas BBQ at the Lawless house.
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| Maggie driving a backhand |
On Tuesday we split the team up and Seth took a group to play a very tough team in Temple JC. This was a big challenge but I had wanted to see many of our players step up to higher lineup spots against a quality opponent (though from results I wasn't sure if they would be as strong as they were in years past) and the match really provided that as we were defeated 8-1 with Maggie scoring a win at #6 singles.
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| Lizzy and Kate Warming up at UMHB |
At the same time, 8 players were at #15 in the West University of Mary Hardin Baylor (UMHB). We came out firing and this team was not as strong as we had expected but they still battled as we won 8-1 and took exhibition matches at 4 doubles and 7,8 singles. It was also great to see Courtney and Alyssa beat a doubles team who has been to nationals, a great start to what would prove to be a big week for them individually.
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| Mini dubs at SSTX |
The saying goes that everything is bigger in Texas, well that must be because Texas itself is so big. After one more great SSTX practice, we drove 4 hours to Dallas and checked into our hotel full of Thai food and thoughts of two more DIII regional matches the next day. Well, we woke to rain and our 9am match got on at 2pm. It was vs. Hardin Simmons at UT Dallas. UTD is a crazy place to play this year as they are doing construction right next to the courts. So noise, wind, some rain all could have led to an upset with us coming in at #10 in the west and HSU unranked. Having discussed mental toughness all week, they showed it taking care of HSU 9-0. This match was followed immediately by a much tougher UTD team, but with Sara and Kate at #3 we swept doubles and during doubles Liv started her #6 singles match. It was good they started early because it was getting dark, dropping rain that looked like it could end the match and Liv's points were super long and patient. She managed to overcome both the elements and her opponent for a straight set win. Courtney won to clinch and then as it got darker and darker (the lights honestly didn't do too much to help and many were out), we found ourselves splitting in all 4 matches and in almost a collective relaxation form the days mental efforts, we lost 8-10, 10-12, 9-11, 5-10 to win 5-4. Still, it was a relief to get two team wins and get off court after a long strenuous day.
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| So much Texas...Erin, Maddy, Em |
Driving 2 hours to Tyler the next day was a piece of cake and a rainy spring in Texas made for gorgeous scenery and wildflowers. We had time to hit and eat before taking on #8 ranked UTT on their home courts. In the warm sun we kept our doubles going with big wins at 1 and 2 and a close loss at 3 to go up 2-1. Courtney had the challenge of playing her "triplet" who was born in the same hospital on the same day as she and Morgan. It's not easy to play someone you've known and been friends with for your whole life, but Courtney is tough and pulled it out. Alyssa, Morgan and Maddy also won is 2 sets for a 6-2 lead with Emily losing in 2 sets against a super tough player and Kate dropping a third set tiebreak. What a day to get a big upset on the road against a very good Tyler team.
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| HP and Maddy at UMHB |
This carried us into our final day of the trip. The Trinity match. If we had won all our DIII matches, we knew the #2 team in the West and #13 in the nation would not only bring great tennis and intensity, but also the opportunity to really move up in the rankings. Alyssa and Courtney absolutely set the tone playing some of the best doubles I've seen from any DIII team that I can remember to beat the #2 team in the west. More than that, their energy carried to Emily and Morgan who scored a huge win at 2 to put us up. Maddy and HP got down early and fought back bravely, but against a big serving team it was tough to get that final break back. Still, up 2-1 and confident, we quickly went to 3-1 with Courtney winning, then Kate lost to level the match before Alyssa won and Morgan lost. So, with 5 and 6 just starting (we only had 4 courts to start as we were sharing with their men's match), it was 4-3 Whitman. Emily played so well and bravely and I'm not sure more than a couple games didn't go to deuce so belief was high even though she was down a set and Maddy was as well at 6. The freshman stormed back with the teams cheering on their players and as Em lost her match to level it at 4-4, Maddy started the deciding 3rd set. It was truly great tennis between two first year players and Trinity's Steph Williamson fought through the opening 3 games to get a 2-1 lead and was able to carry it from there. Trinity erupted in joy with a 5-4 win and our team was right there for Maddy and Emily. During all this intensity Lizzy and Erin were trying to stay focused at 7 and 8 which is something I commend them for and that makes us such a great team as we are always working on every aspect of our tennis and teamwork.
Getting together after Trinity was a mix of emotions, but mostly there was a sense of confidence and pride. We talked early in the week about how to play as a team with no regrets. It is one of the hardest things to do in an individual sport that is so physically and mentally demanding and in all of my years I can't remember a better display of championship tennis. Hopefully, we are able to learn what we can continue to do better, but without regrets we are confident that we can play with top 15 teams which is a huge step for Whitman Women's Tennis.
I can't thank enough Carlos at St. Stephen's, the Rolstons and Dean Snider for traveling watching and supporting us as well as the friends who stopped in along the way. A Texas trip isn't common for us (about every 4 years), and this one was one with amazing tennis where the team also had so much fun together, and I must give extra thanks to Seth for his work on and off court and of course to Mark and Sandy for everything throughout the week.
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| The team with Carols at St Stephen's |
I can't wait to see many of you at family/alumni weekend. Please email me with RSVP's or questions and I'll get a schedule out in the next couple of days but please know you are invited to watch the home matches, join us for a Friday dinner at 5:30pm after the 11am Linfield match and for family/friend/alum tennis after the Saturday match vs. Willamette.
Texas forever,
John
