Lady Bisons fall to ECC
Thursday, September 03, 2009
By Josh Mlot Sports Writer
HYDE - Three matches into the season and the Clearfield girls tennis team has made it clear it will not go down without a fight. Coming off their first win of the season on Tuesday, the Lady Bisons used a strong doubles performance to nearly knock off visiting Elk County Catholic on Wednesday, 5-4.
Clearfield (1-2) lost by the same score in the season opener on Monday.
"We have some footwork we need to work on, but we didn't play badly," Clearfield head coach Steve Miller said. "For the most part we played alright, ECC was just very consistent."
The Lady Bisons won three of the four doubles contests, including a sometimes-frustrating match for No. 1 pair Jenny Miller and Madison Sopic, but only picked up a lone singles victory by Sopic.
"I was very happy with our doubles," coach Miller said. "Jenny and Madison play together so well, so it was good to see them win."
The top two players took on Elk County Catholic's Kylie Aumen and Crystal Hanes, and quickly took the lead. But some questionable calls didn't go the home team's way, and Aumen and Hanes drew within one, 6-5.
Miller and Sopic remained composed, though, and a volley at the net by Sopic broke serve and secured an 8-5 win.
"Madison really likes to play the net, and Jenny does well in the backcourt," coach Miller said.
"So that combination seems to work really well." After a close defeat in singles for Kristen McKenzie, she got together with Suzie Colesar in doubles action to control the match and drop Lady Crusaders Megan Fritz and Ally Brock, 8-2.
Fourth doubles team Jenna Cowder and Hillary Buck did their share by playing their way to an 8-2 victory over Sophie Herzing and Abby Wittman. The lone doubles loss for Clearfield saw Bekah Greenland and Sierra Grice stay close but ultimately fall to ECC's Loreal Housler and Abby Meyer, 8-5.
No. 2 Sopic continued what has been a strong season thus far by picking up a singles win to go with her doubles success.
The senior twice fought back from deep deficits, going down 4-0 in the first set and 3-0 in the second, to erase the gap and come out on top of Megan Cotter. She was unanswered as she roped in six consecutive games in each set, finishing at 6-4 and 6-3.
"Madison did very well in singles," coach Miller said. "At first look I thought, ‘well, we're going to lose all the singles.'
"I think Madison, she's consistent and she doesn't give up. She doesn't quit. That was obvious today."
McKenzie tried to defend her No. 3 court, but a tied first set led to a tiebreaker that went to opponent Shanelle Housler. After falling in the first set 7-6 (7-5), McKenzie conceded the final frame, 6-3.
"Kristen McKenzie had that tiebreaker, and she lost that tiebreaker when a few hit the cracks," coach Miller said. "But that happens to everyone. Kristen played very consistently."
In other singles action, the No. 1 match saw Elk's Aumen sweep through Jenny Miller 6-1, 6-0. No. 4 Colesar was unable to get by Fritz, dropping the matchup 6-3, 6-1.
The fifth singles event featured ECC's Loreal Housler taking out Greenland in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.
After playing three matches in three days, the Lady Bisons will now get a break before traveling to DuBois on Tuesday. Elk County Catholic 5, Clearfield 4
Singles
1. Kylie Aumen, ECC, def. Jenny Miller, C, 6-1, 6-0.
2. Madison Sopic, C, def. Megan Cotter, ECC, 6-4, 6-3.
3. Shanelle Housler, ECC, def. Kristen McKenzie, C, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
4. Megan Fritz, ECC, def. Suzie Colesar, C, 6-3, 6-1.
5. Loreal Housler, ECC, def. Bekah Greenland, C, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Miller-Sopic, C, def. Aumen-Crystal Hanes, ECC, 8-5.
2. McKenzie-Colesar, C, def. Fritz-Ally Brock, ECC, 8-2.
3. L. Housler-Abby Meyer, ECC, def. Greenland-Sierra Grice, C, 8-5.
4. Jenna Cowder-Hillary Buck, C, def. Sophie Herzing-Abby Wittman, ECC, 8-2.
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