The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Girls' tennis program makes its Big Red debut
Milan takes one match in first-ever dual meet, three in second
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
Last spring, Milan kickstarted its first-ever tennis program as the Big Red boys took the court for the first time. Now, after the Michigan High School Athletic Association season switch, the Big Red girls are getting in on the act, too.
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Under the tutelage of head coach Nate Rodriguez, Milan competed in its first-ever girls' tennis meet April 15, falling on the road to Riverview 7-1. The Big Reds then lost 5-3 to fellow first-year program Gibraltar-Carson at home last Thursday.
But, for Rodriguez, the four matches won and the size of Milan's inaugural team — the Big Red roster goes 21 girls deep despite it being the program's first year — are early signs of how much potential the program has.
"Honestly, we were expecting about the same (turnout) as the boys, but we're doing a lot better than that," Rodriguez said. "We've got a good mix of each grade and a lot of them are sticking with it, even if they haven't played before. It's a tough sport. It can be frustrating. But they're doing really well."
The overwhelming majority of the Big Reds are first-time tennis players, though a few have tennis experience, including lifelong tennis enthusiast Sarah Towler. Towler, while moonlighting from her role on the Milan girls' soccer team, has taken over the Big Reds' No. 1 singles position and has begun the season 2-0 after a 6-2, 6-3 win against Avani Shukla of Riverview and a 6-0, 6-1 win against Gibraltar-Carlson.
"She's doing a great job for us," Rodriguez said.
Towler's win would prove to be the only one for the Big Reds against the Pirates, but against the Bulldogs Thursday Milan nearly forced a draw as Bekah Draves won her match at No. 4 singles 5-7, 7-6, 7-3 (with the third set reduced to a tiebreak because time constraints) and No. 1 doubles team Maura Donahue and Jannicka Martinsen winning 6-2, 7-5.
The Big Reds would fall two games short of forcing the draw — the second doubles team of Jessica Pfeiffer and Liz Mitchell split the first two sets 4-6, 6-4 before falling 4-6 in the decisive third set — but Rodriguez was more than encouraged by his team's play.
"We played well," he said. "It was especially good for the girls to get their confidence up."
In fact, to this point Rodriguez says the only true problem the fledgling program has faced has been out of the team's control — namely, the extended winter that hampered their early season practice schedule, an especially difficult situation for a team with so much learning to do.
"The only thing that's really hurt us is the weather," Rodriguez said. "It's hurt our progress."
But with spring having finally arrived and the season in full swing, Rodriguez isn't complaining. As long as the girls enjoy themselves and establish a foundation for the years to come, he said, the Big Reds' inaugural season will be a success.
"Just to come out and have fun is the first thing," he said. "We want the girls to enjoy it so they'll want to come back and play again next year, and keep playing even after they leave high school. We want them to get some experience and learn the basics, backhands and forehands.
"And if we win a few matches, that's great, too."
Other results from the Riverview meet included No. 2 singles, Chrisse Woolard lost 2-6, 0-6; No. 3 singles, Hannah Yoskovich lost 0-6, 0-6; No. 4 singles, Draves lost 2-6, 0-6; No. 1 doubles, Donahue and Martinsen lost 0-6, 0-6; No. 2 doubles, Pfeiffer and Mitchell lost 0-6, 1-6; No. 3 doubles, Katie Borema and Alisha Eddy lost 0-6, 0-6; and No. 4 doubles, Toni Barnett and Lauren Kartje lost 0-6, 0-6.
Other results from the Gibraltar meet included:No. 2 singles, Woolard lost 2-6, 2-6; No. 3 singles, Yoskovich lost 5-7, 3-6; No. 3 doubles, Borema and Anne Borema lost 1-6, 1-6; No. 4 doubles, Eddy and Kathryn Allore lost 5-7, 1-6.
Other members of the Milan girls' tennis team are Lizzie Jones, Monica Melchi, Katherine Nisbett, Ariel Graber, Kayla Ulbick, Katlyn Werstein and Alexis Kay. Captains are Allore and Katie Borema.
Staff Writer Jerry Hinnen can be reached at 429-7380 or jhinnen@heritage.com.
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