July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Jay can't sustain momentum vs. Jets (05/03/05)
JCHS girls tennis
Jay can't sustain momentum vs. Jets (05/03/05)
By By RAY COONEY-
PORTLAND — There was plenty of wind blowing Monday night. But the Jay County girls tennis team still had it taken out of their sails.
After matching the best result in school history at the DeKalb Invitational Saturday, the Patriots took a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Adams Central Jets in the cold and blustery conditions Monday.
“I’m disappointed,” said first-year coach Jerry Klopfenstein, whose team matched the 1986 and 2001 teams by placing fourth at DeKalb. “Coming off Saturday and playing really well with a lot of good competition, it seemed like we were right back at the beginning of the season. ... Maybe it was a long day Saturday and we were just a little bit fatigued and tired.”
“It’s always tough. It kind of gives you a reality check that you have to come out and play hard every night.”
Former No. 1 doubles partners Erin St. Myers and Julie Sours took care of business at No. 2 and 3 singles, but Jay County (4-6) could not come up with a third victory.
The Patriots had chances in both doubles matches as the No. 1 pair of Brianne Morrical and Chelsea Reff went to a third set while Stephanie Homan and Carissa Wilkins tried to force a third at No. 2 doubles.
Homan and Wilkins trailed 4-3, but then won back-to-back games to take a 5-4 advantage. They had a pair of set points in the next game with Homan serving, but couldn’t convert either.
Adams Central’s Amie King and Megan Smith finally took the game on their third break point try and went on to win three games in a row to take the match 6-2, 7-5.
That left the match up to Morrical and Reff, who had won the opening set 6-4 only to fall 6-2 in the second. The pair jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the third set, but never won another game.
They dropped the fifth game by knocking back-to-back serves from Amanda Isch into the net. They then had a game point in the sixth before losing three consecutive points, two of which came on double faults.
Ashley Fiechter and Isch took the seventh game as well for a 5-2 advantage, but the Patriots had a chance to start a comeback as they went up 40-30 in the next game. However, they lost back-to-back points on a pair of winners by Isch, and the Adams Central pair finished off set 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Jay County’s third loss came at No. 1 singles, where Whitney Schemenaur fell to Lindsey Cloniger 6-1, 6-2.
“It’s nothing physical,” said Klopfenstein of the losses. “I know those girls can play tennis. I think it’s all just a mental thing.”
St. Myers, who was the No. 2 singles runner up at DeKalb, improved to 8-2 in singles action as she dominated Natalie Mitchel. She swept the first set, gave up a game early in the second, then cruised the rest of the way and finished the 6-0, 6-1 victory when Mitchel whacked a shot into the net.
“I knew she had it in her,” Klopfenstein said of St. Myers, who has won eight of her last nine matches. “I knew she could compete at the singles level. Just watching her excitement Saturday was incredible. I think that was a huge confidence boost for her. I think that momentum from Saturday is going to carry her ...”
Sours lost the first game of her match against Jessica Andrews and No. 3 singles, and trailed 2-1. But, she took control after that, winning five of the next seven games in the first set and dominating the second en route to a 6-4, 6-1 win.
“I’m happy with those two girls and the way they’re playing,” said Klopfenstein. “They’re going to be the catalysts of this team. ... I’m hoping that as the other girls watch them win hopefully that will spark something.
Junior varsity
Jay County’s junior varsity girls tennis team won its sixth straight match Monday, defeating the Adams Central Jets 3-2.
Angie Stults won her sixth straight match as well at No. 1 singles by an 8-4 score. Tiffani Bickel won 8-0 at No. 3 singles, and the team of Megan Knittle and Jessica Muhlenkamp took an 8-3 victory at No. 1 doubles.
Megan Adams lost 8-6 at No. 2 singles, and Cindy Muhlenkamp and Betsy Knittle lost 8-6 at No. 2 doubles.
The Patriots split exhibition matches with Caitlin Dunn winning 8-6 while Heather Ayers fell 8-6.[[In-content Ad]]
After matching the best result in school history at the DeKalb Invitational Saturday, the Patriots took a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Adams Central Jets in the cold and blustery conditions Monday.
“I’m disappointed,” said first-year coach Jerry Klopfenstein, whose team matched the 1986 and 2001 teams by placing fourth at DeKalb. “Coming off Saturday and playing really well with a lot of good competition, it seemed like we were right back at the beginning of the season. ... Maybe it was a long day Saturday and we were just a little bit fatigued and tired.”
“It’s always tough. It kind of gives you a reality check that you have to come out and play hard every night.”
Former No. 1 doubles partners Erin St. Myers and Julie Sours took care of business at No. 2 and 3 singles, but Jay County (4-6) could not come up with a third victory.
The Patriots had chances in both doubles matches as the No. 1 pair of Brianne Morrical and Chelsea Reff went to a third set while Stephanie Homan and Carissa Wilkins tried to force a third at No. 2 doubles.
Homan and Wilkins trailed 4-3, but then won back-to-back games to take a 5-4 advantage. They had a pair of set points in the next game with Homan serving, but couldn’t convert either.
Adams Central’s Amie King and Megan Smith finally took the game on their third break point try and went on to win three games in a row to take the match 6-2, 7-5.
That left the match up to Morrical and Reff, who had won the opening set 6-4 only to fall 6-2 in the second. The pair jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the third set, but never won another game.
They dropped the fifth game by knocking back-to-back serves from Amanda Isch into the net. They then had a game point in the sixth before losing three consecutive points, two of which came on double faults.
Ashley Fiechter and Isch took the seventh game as well for a 5-2 advantage, but the Patriots had a chance to start a comeback as they went up 40-30 in the next game. However, they lost back-to-back points on a pair of winners by Isch, and the Adams Central pair finished off set 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Jay County’s third loss came at No. 1 singles, where Whitney Schemenaur fell to Lindsey Cloniger 6-1, 6-2.
“It’s nothing physical,” said Klopfenstein of the losses. “I know those girls can play tennis. I think it’s all just a mental thing.”
St. Myers, who was the No. 2 singles runner up at DeKalb, improved to 8-2 in singles action as she dominated Natalie Mitchel. She swept the first set, gave up a game early in the second, then cruised the rest of the way and finished the 6-0, 6-1 victory when Mitchel whacked a shot into the net.
“I knew she had it in her,” Klopfenstein said of St. Myers, who has won eight of her last nine matches. “I knew she could compete at the singles level. Just watching her excitement Saturday was incredible. I think that was a huge confidence boost for her. I think that momentum from Saturday is going to carry her ...”
Sours lost the first game of her match against Jessica Andrews and No. 3 singles, and trailed 2-1. But, she took control after that, winning five of the next seven games in the first set and dominating the second en route to a 6-4, 6-1 win.
“I’m happy with those two girls and the way they’re playing,” said Klopfenstein. “They’re going to be the catalysts of this team. ... I’m hoping that as the other girls watch them win hopefully that will spark something.
Junior varsity
Jay County’s junior varsity girls tennis team won its sixth straight match Monday, defeating the Adams Central Jets 3-2.
Angie Stults won her sixth straight match as well at No. 1 singles by an 8-4 score. Tiffani Bickel won 8-0 at No. 3 singles, and the team of Megan Knittle and Jessica Muhlenkamp took an 8-3 victory at No. 1 doubles.
Megan Adams lost 8-6 at No. 2 singles, and Cindy Muhlenkamp and Betsy Knittle lost 8-6 at No. 2 doubles.
The Patriots split exhibition matches with Caitlin Dunn winning 8-6 while Heather Ayers fell 8-6.[[In-content Ad]]
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