On Saturday the Girls Varsity tennis team took on their first match day of the year playing in the Allegan Invitational. There were 8 teams at this invite across all divisions. The Eagles had a successful first match day of the year. They faced some adversity with an injury, players playing in new spots for the first time, other teams already having played matches, and some windier conditions…and in the end the team was up for these challenges and had a strong showing. The team finished in 4th place. Every single flight from 5 doubles to 1 singles also got at least 1 match win on the day which was awesome. This was many players first ever varsity matches and to get a first varsity match win on day one was huge. We also had several flights win more than 1 match. The important thing is we improved as a team and we are a better team as a result of competing on Saturday. Here is more detailed by flight results:

1 Singles: Natalie Poortenga finished in 1st place and was the tournament champion! She won all 3 matches in straight sets against Allegan, St. Joe, and Romeo. Natalie proved she was the best player at that tournament convincingly and had a strong showing to start the year out 3-0.

2 Singles: Alex Vermeulen finished in 3rd place. Alex started off the day with a double bagel against TC West and ended up losing a close match against a strong Romeo team. She capped off her day with a straight set win against St. Joe. Alex starts the year off 2-1.

3 Singles: Kaitlyn Schmitt finishing as the consolation champ. She played a really tough W. Ottawa player in the first and played one of her best matches she has ever played against an undefeated opponent. She went on to win in straight sets against Armada and TC West and played some solid tennis.

4 Singles: Adelyn Breuninger played her first every varsity and singles match and we are proud of the way she competed. She played two tough opponents to start against Romeo and EGR but played a lot of long points and competed well. Her attitude and mental game was stellar throughout too. The Romeo player even made the finals and ended up retiring early, probably because Adelyn wore her out so much! She proceeded to get her first varsity singles win in her last match winning 6-0, 6-1.

1 Doubles: Frankie Volkema/Anna Jacobsen came in 7th place. They faced a strong W. Ottawa team first and then proceeded to play two really close and strong matches against Armada and Allegan. They got better with every match and we are proud of their growth throughout the day. 

2 Doubles: Betta Klein/Gwyn Artz were consolation champions. They faced a strong St. Joe team first that ended up almost winning 1st place and then also proceeded to continue to improved in each match by beating Armada and Allegan and pretty convincing fashion to go 2-1 on the day.

3 Doubles: Rachel Larsen/Lucy VanDrunnen finished in 2nd place. These two girls dominated in their first two matches winning in straight sets in both against Armada and EGR. They faced a pretty strong W. Ottawa team in the finals and lost 3-6, 1-6 but they played some really good tennis and almost every game went to deuce. Proud of them for making it to the finals.

4 Doubles: Charline Dahu/Anneka Vermeulen finished in 2nd place. This was the first matches these two had played together and they looked like a veteran duo out there as they were in sync physically and mentally all day and were constantly adjusting and talking strategy. They won in straight sets against two solid opponents of EGR and WO and then went on to lose a very close match against Romeo 6-7, 2-6. They competed very strong until the end and we are proud of their performance.

5 Doubles: Emily Vandenberge/Johanna Bos finished in 3rd place. These girls were strong from the start beating Allegan 6-0, 6-1 in their first match and they proceeded to play a good match against a strong W. Ottawa team and came up just short. Once again, another team who I felt like improved with every match as they went on as I was most proud of their last match beating EGR 7-6, 6-2. They were down early but were thinking strategy and adjustments the whole time to where they made a come back in the set to trigger the tie break in which they proved to be the more clutch players. They then did not let them get any more momentum by dominating in the last set.

5 Doubles: Olivia Christians/Madeline Small finished in 6th place. These girls were called up last second to play and I couldn't have been more proud of the way competed, especially on a short notice to prepare. They played a strong team that ended up winning the 5D draw first and then proceeded to crush Armada in the 2nd match. They then finished with their best match of the day losing a close match to where they never gave up until the end. These two girls had some of the most energy, best footwork, and positive attitudes of the day and that is exactly what are looking for out of our doubles teams.

The Eagles take on their first conference opponent against Forest Hills Central today at home at 4:15pm. Come out and support your varsity tennis team! Go Eagles!