GPS tennis coach Sue Bartlett went into Tuesday’s match against Darlington just hoping to see improvement of things worked on in practice. With the quickness of some of her team’s matches, it seemed that the Bruisers executed the plan to perfection.
GPS dropped only nine games in singles and another three in doubles, earning a 7-0 victory over the Rome, Ga., school Tuesday on the Bruisers’ home court.
Darlington came into the match a year removed from a state quarterfinal berth but now has a younger team that was no match for the Bruisers’ depth.
“When you have teams that come from out of town — especially out of state — you’re not familiar with all of their players and don’t always know how strong they are,” Bartlett said. “In the past they’ve had some good teams, but this year’s team isn’t as good as past teams. It goes in cycles.
“In contrast, we have incredible depth. The girls handled themselves well, played within themselves and got off the court quickly.”
Bronte Goodhue and Aliza Williams swept their singles matches 6-0, 6-0. Meredith Morrow lost only one game in her match, and Emma McCallie lost two. Hannah Morrow and Sarah Evans dropped three, with Evans playing the longest match of the day — an eventual 6-1, 6-2 victory over Katharina Reckendrees.
“Good match play is always good,” Evans said. “We want to be able to play good matches and build up stamina for later in the year, because it’s really hot at state.”
Evans and Goodhue, Williams and McCallie and Meredith Morrow and Lauren Schlabach teamed for doubles wins, counting for one team point.
“All I wanted the girls to do was work on things that we had been working on individually to improve their game,” Bartlett said. “In doubles we wanted them to be more aggressive at the net and to go for first serves.
“Right now, I’m just looking for them to work toward their own goals.”