By GREG KEIM
A change in the doubles lineup didn’t stop the Goshen High School girls tennis team from winning its first Northern Lakes Conference match of the season Thursday on the Goshen Middle School courts.
Seniors Brittany Padgett and Melissa Hostetler moved up to the No. 1 position while junior Nancy Swihart and sophomore Lauren Lehman shifted to No. 2.
Both Redskin tandems won as Goshen posted a 4-1 win over the Wawasee Warriors.
“We had a doubles challenge right before spring break and both teams are super close,” Goshen coach Scott Miller said. “One team has won three challenge matches and the other two with the last one being 7-6.
“I just felt the seniors would be a little more conformable at No. 1. Swihart and Lehman were feeling a little pressure so the change should give then some confidence.”
Hostetler and Padgett recorded a 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 win over seniors Rachel Larson and Amber Brady while Swihart and Lehman notched a 6-0, 6-3 victory over junior Jamie Aker and sophomore Lauren Erb.
“We lost the match, but that was the best tennis we have played,” Wawasee coach Roger Brady said. “I was a little surprised our No. 1 doubles did that good.
“I wasn’t sure how close the match would be. Goshen graduated a few players from last year and so did we.”
Wawasee’s point came at No. 1 singles as senior Kelsey Mark outlasted senior Ellie Berry 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
“Berry is a good player and very consistent,” Brady said. “Kelsey needs to get into match shape. Her legs were tired in the second set, she did not bend her knees.
“She had a lot of problems last season with a stress fracture and shin splints. We are monitoring her very carefully.
“She stayed in the match mentally and it should give her confidence that she could win a match when she didn’t have her legs.”
Miller said, “Kelsey Mark seemed healthy tonight. It was good to see an athlete back out there on the court, just not from a coaching standpoint.
“During the second set, Mark and Ellie were really banging the ball back and forth. Ellie may have lost the match, but she took Mark to the limit.”
Goshen’s other points came as sophomore Anika Baumgartner defeated sophomore Haley Windle 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2 singles and junior Mackenzie Rozelle topped sophomore Kalyn McDaniel 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3.
“Nerves got to Anika and caused her to not move,” Miller said. “She was down 5-3 in the second set and had to start moving around after balls. That was a key point in the match.
“I don’t think I have talked to Mackenzie during a match all season and she is OK with that. She is keeping the ball in play and keeping things simple. She is comfortable with that and so am I.”
Summary
Singles
No. 1— Kelsey Mark (W) def. Ellie Berry 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
No. 2— Anika Baumgartner (G) def. Haley Windle 7-5, 6-1.
No. 3— Mackenzie Rozelle (G) def. Kalyn McDaniel 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles
No. 1— Melissa Hostetler-Brittany Padgett (G) def. Rachel Larson-Amber Brady 6-0, 6-3.
No. 2— Nancy Swihart-Lauren Lehman (G) def. Jamie Akers-Lauren Erb 6-3, 1-6, 6-0.
Team Records: Goshen (2-1, 1-0 NLC) hosts its round robin on Saturday. Wawasee (2-1, 0-1) visits Westview today.
JV Score: Wawasee won 7-2. (Goshen winners: Katie Miller, Brittany Graber-Kelly Weaver. Wawasee winners: Katie Allen, Cyala Hilgenberg, Charlotte Searfoss, Dew Plangdee, Karla Allen, Mia Hauser-Morgan Geer, Bethany Acton-Jen Nichols, Lucy Sun-Mint Panochit)
