October 20, 2009
GFS 3, George School 2
GFS girls tennis defeated George School 3-2 in the Tigers' last home match of the season. Beforehand, the team celebrated graduating seniors Sharell Bryant and Daisy Daeschler with merriment, baked goods and tea. "The tennis team won't be the same without Daisy's loud vocals or Sharell's constant support," said coach Jessica Smith. "They ended their home match properly by going three sets and coming out of it victorious." Smith described the match as follows: "They dropped the first set 6-4. Tenacious and ready too come back, Daisy tightened up her serve while Sharell overcame her fear of the volley. This match had everything, short ball scrambles, direct hits to the net player, forehand cross court shots that were untouchable... then they took the second set, 6-3. As the temperature got colder so did the determination of our #1 doubles team, Daisy and Sharell who won the third set 6-2."
"Junior Jenna Goldstein was fueled today," said Smith. "At #1 singles Jenna didn't allow her opponent to win a single game in the first set. Winning the set 6-0 had Jenna walking taller and she easily defeated the George School player 6-2 in the second. Jenna was returning hard shots that were hit deep to her backhand with twice as much force than they were coming with".
"At this point in the match, we were tied in the team score 2-2," said Smith. "Second singles Haley Abbott a sophomore went three sets but fell to her opponent. She did get a compliment by the opposing coach to her extreme eye for detail when calling lines in tennis. Even her opponent remarked as to how virtuous Haley was with her sports ethics. Junior Sarah Sadtler had a tough match at third singles and was second to finish."
The Tigers needed second doubles team Shenara Musthaq and Kelsey Turner to prevail in order to win.
"The first set happened quickly. Shenara and Kelsey defeated George School 6-0. The second set proved to be a little harder to handle, and went to their competitors 6-4. At this point all eyes were on them. The sun was gone and we were watching with borrowed daylight. Everyone was huddled on the benches by their teams. Parents were arriving to pick up their tennis-playing daughters and they joined the audience."
"The score kept creeping back and forth exactly like a tennis ball," said Smith.. "They'd be up 1-0, then down 2-1. Then up again. At 5-5 everyone was so incredibly enthralled in the match our internal night vision came on. Everyone except Kelsey and Shenara knew it was the deciding match. The George School doubles team started taking some of the shots hit through the center of the court at net and winning a few points. However no one runs a ball down like Kelsey and no one can make you more afraid to be at the net than Shenara when she's getting an overhead and about to smash it down. Of course it went to a tiebreaker in true suspenseful style."
"Kelsey and Shenara walked out on that court like they owned it, ready for that tiebreaker. A quick tiebreak, they won 7-3 and won the match for our GFS Tigers."
"It was a glorious last home match of the season. Thanks to everyone for their part in appreciating our seniors. "
Singles:
1. Jenna Goldstein (GFS) defeated Aimee Pellegrino 6-0/6-2
2. Kira Schnider (GS) defeated Haley Abbott 6-4/4-6/6-3
3. Ali Lee (GS) defeated Sarah Sadtler 6-4/6-2
Doubles:
1. Daisy Daeschler & Sharell Bryant (GFS) defeated Nell Sweeney/Burny Lai 4-6/6-3/6-2
2. Shenara Musthaq & Kelsey Turner (GFS) defeated Angie Telatarich/Kenishen Danderson 6-0/4-6/7-6 (7-3)