By Justin Albers
May 08, 2008 06:41 am
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It was difficult to predict what would happen on the court this season for the Pendleton Heights girls’ tennis team after a disappointing record a year ago.
Not many thought the Arabians would be competitive early on in the season, and when the team dropped matches to Mount Vernon and (1-4) and Highland (0-5), it appeared they were correct.
Think again.
The Lady Arabians have used four victories in their last five matches to make some noise in the difficult Hoosier Heritage Conference.
“We knew coming into this season that it could be our best and it has been,” head coach Wendy Hilligoss said. “This team is raising the bar on what will be expected when our girls take the court.”
Why the sudden turnaround? Well, from weekly winter conditioning to indoor practice throughout the year, the team worked diligently to get better during the off-season. And it also helps that all but one of last year’s varsity members returned this season. Only Ashley Miller of last year’s No. 1 doubles team was lost to graduation.
For the Lady Arabians to be successful late in the season, senior Jordan Safford and junior Karley Etherington will have to be on top of their games as No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, respectively. While neither was able to record a win against Lapel, both answered with solid, straight-set dominating performances against Eastern Hancock on April 23.
“Jordan has taken her game to the next level,” Hilligoss said. “Karley and Lindsey McIntire are the powerhouses on the team; they compete with anyone that steps on the court.”
Safford won 7-5, 6-1 while Etherington surrendered only one game the entire match in a 6-0, 6-1 victory. The Arabians’ doubles teams were also successful in capturing both matches from the Royals. Leah Akers and Lauren Dawson won in No. 1 doubles 6-2, 6-3 while Beth Pluhar and Allison Blake combined for a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Akers and Dawson also bested Lapel in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.
PH had defeated New Castle (April 15) and Shelbyville (April 18) but a May 1 loss to Delta ended the winning streak.
“We have really been looking forward to sectional all season,” Hilligoss said. “The girls have been preparing hard, and their off-season work should help.”
This week should be a good indicator as to where the team is at this point in the season. They faced a grueling schedule that featured four matches in five days, including HHC foes Greenfield-Central (Tuesday) and New Palestine (today). Yesterday (Wednesday) was the girls’ only school day off until the regular season ends on May 13.
No matter the experience or knowledge of the sport, Hilligoss recommends all community members come out and support the team at a match where admission is always free.
“These girls are not only good tennis players; they are good representatives of the Pendleton community itself,” she said.
The Arabians are back in action at New Palestine tomorrow night before returning home to battle Yorktown on Monday.
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