The NDCL girls’ tennis team is having a great season. They Lions completed their regular season with a 12-3 record and now head to the OHSAA sectional tournament.
The NDCL girls’ tennis team is having a great season.
They Lions completed their regular season with a 12-3 record and now head to the OHSAA sectional tournament.
On Sept. 29, NDCL took on visiting Andrews Osborne. The Lions won the match 4-1 and were dominant through most of the matches.
Winning her match at first singles for the Lions was sophomore Elena Fleming, who is looking to return to the state championships for the second year in a row. Fleming finished in fourth place in the OHSAA state tournament last season.
Against Andrews Osborne, Fleming won both sets by a score of 6-0, 6-1.
“It was pretty cold outside, but I think I played well after not playing for a bit because of the rain,” said Fleming. “I had a good last win of the season, and I’m really excited for Monday to start sectionals and hopefully my road to states again.”
Alexa Koler won her match at third singles by winning both sets 6-2, 6-4.
“I had a lot of fun; my opponent was really nice,” Koler said. “It was fun to play with her because I got to rally back and forth a lot so I got a lot of exercise in today.
“I thought I was playing really well today. I placed a few balls today that I was really proud of.”
In addition to winning two of their three singles matches, the Lions also swept both doubles matches.
In first doubles, Lucy Paulin and Kate Harlan won their match.
“Our match went really well and we beat them with a score of 6-0, 6-1,” Paulin said. “I think we have been really consistent as a doubles team, and we really worked well together and we had a lot of fun.”
Added Harlan, “I also think we played really well; it was our first time playing together in like a month, but we did really well.”
At second doubles for NDCL, Erin Lee and Jackie Queen won their match 6-0, 6-0.
“We work really well together and we have been playing most of the season together, so I am really looking forward to playing with her in sectionals,” said Queen.
Added Lee, “Over the season I think we have become good friends (and) that really helped our teamwork together, and we just played all around really well today.”
As NDCL has completed its season, it has also begun to receive post season awards.
Elena Fleming was named first singles, first-team all-conference). She had a great season going 14-1 in matches and winning 86 percent of her games within the matches.
Earning second team all-conference recognition was Lucy Paulin (second singles). For the season, Paulin was 10-1 in singles and 3-0 in doubles matches.
Also earning second team all-conference was Caroline Stepnowski (third singles). Stepnowski was 6-0 in singles and 3-2 in doubles matches.
Kate Harlan and McKenna Morgan (first doubles), as well as Erin Lee and Alexa Koler (second doubles), also earned second-time all-Crown Conference recognition.
NDCL will next competeOct. 3 in the OHSAA sectionals.
