The guys adapted well to a different start. Instead of starting with 1s and 2s in this match we started with 3 and 4 singles and 2 and 4 doubles. At No. 3 singles Reza played a great match against a tough player from Glencoe and avenged an early season loss to win 6-4, 6-4. With each match Reza has shown his teammates, coaches, and opponents that he means business. It was a great win. At No. 4 singles Bradyn gave 110% (something that he does in all of his matches) and played a great match. He ended up on the losing end of the match dropping the final set 5-7, but I was very, very pleased with his effort. He put a lot of work into the off-season preparing for this spring and his hard work has paid off.
At No. 2 doubles Cody and Brendon got back to their usual winning ways in part by implementing a new poaching strategy with serving signals we implemented at Monday's practice. The guys used this strategy well and became much more active and aggressive at the net, beating a consistent doubles team 6-3, 6-1. At No.4 doubles I mixed up the pairings and put Nicky and Daniel together for the first time this season. After playing together on Monday in practice, the two of them carried over their fine chemistry to win their match 6-4, 6-4.
After those 4 matches were completed we were up 3-1. At No. 1 doubles, Will and Adam played a very consistent, scrappy, hard-hitting team and won 6-4, 7-5. They exhibited great patience and went for put-away volleys at the right times in the match. At No. 3 doubles, the new pairing of Wyatt and Marshall won in decisive fashion 6-0, 6-1. After hearing a few "primal screams" of joy from Wyatt early on in the match, I knew they were well on their way to winning the match.
The last two matches of the day were true battles. Jesse won a close match 7-6, 6-3 against one of the most athletic players in our league. Kurtis from Glencoe only plays tennis 3 months out of the year as basketball is his primary sport, but you wouldn't know it based on his wonderful play. Jesse stayed mentally tough and beat Kurtis on one of his great playing days of the year. The best, fiercest match of the day was at No. 2 singles. Nathan, who is accustomed to playing right away, had to wait until about 7pm to start his match. While playing in near darkness by the end of the match and dealing with noises from the softball batting cages nearby the courts, Nathan bounced back after losing the set to beat one of the strongest singles players in our league 3-6, 6-3, 10-3. The energy, aggressiveness and consistency he continues to use in every match is really working well for him. He is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Pacific Conference at the No. 2 singles spot. Lastly, George played an exhibition match for the Grizz and won decisively 8-2. The JV squad was victorious today as well, winning 5-1 against an athletic Glencoe team.
Overall it was great to get a decisive win over one of the tougher teams in our league. We always have great battles with Glencoe and the guys really stepped up and played well today. If they continue to play with that much energy and consistency, mainly with that heightened "will to win," then the sky is the limit for our guys. I have a great feeling moving forward as we finish our regular season, and into our Grizzly Invitational and District/State tournaments.
Here are today's scores:
McMinnville 7, Glencoe 1 (6-5, 6-3)
Singles
1. Jesse def. Kurtis Campbell 7-6(5), 6-3
2. Nathan def. Thommy Nuthmann 3-6, 6-3, 10-3
3. Reza def. Wesley Upton 6-4, 6-4
4. Brian Rassmussen def. Bradyn 7-6(0), 4-6, 7-5
Doubles
1. Will/Adam def. Matthew Bergthold/Brian Forbes 6-4, 7-5
2. Brendon/Cody def. Josh Bailey/Daniel Koleshnikov 6-3, 6-1
3. Marshall/Wyatt def. Quillen Bourassa/Jacom Gerber 6-0, 6-1
4. Nicky/Daniel def. Brendon Summers/Kyle Campbell 6-4, 6-4
Exhibition - George def. Jacom Gerber 8-2
JV - Wins 5-1
Game Balls - Reza/Nathan (singles), Cody/Brendon (doubles)
Here is our schedule for the rest of the season:
- 4/26 - @ Tigard
- 4/27 - @ Century
- 4/30 - vs. Hillsboro (Chuck Biederman dedication ceremony)
- 5/2 - @ Newberg
- 5/3 - vs. Forest Grove (Senior Night)
- 5/5 - Grizzly Invitational Tournament
- 9am - vs. Mt. View (Cowls)
- Noon - vs. Beaverton (Patton)
- 3pm - vs. Clackamas (Cowls)
- 5/10-5/12: Pacific Conference District Tournament (Linfield College)
- 5/17-5/19: OSAA 6A State Tournament (Tualatin Hills Tennis Center)
Thanks for the support this season!
Go Grizzlies!
-Coach Gabrielsen
