SEYMOUR
Both doubles teams and No. 3 singles really came through for the Trinity Lutheran boys tennis team on Monday night.
Hard fought wins by Noah Voelker at No. 3 singles, as well as wins from top tandem Cameron Gruenwald and Jack VonDielingen and from No. 2 pair Luke Pollert and Nathan Voelker, put the Cougars over the top, 3-2 against Indianapolis Lutheran.
Cougars coach Bailey Baker said in the past his team seemed to get off to slow starts but Monday they started out with more confidence to bring their record to 2-8.
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“They all played well,” he said. “They played a lot better than they normally do. Our biggest problem right now is we start kind of slow. We don’t really start expecting to win, we start expecting to lose, I guess.”
Baker continued, explaining his boys aren’t always ready to start playing when the matches begin but today just seemed different.
“They’re timid, not ready for it, but today it was like everyone went out there and started playing the game,” he continued. “They had confidence. Our ground strokes were better, just placing the ball, and just not let them move us around, staying in control the whole game.”
Noah Voelker dominated Reece Bullock 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3 singles. Gruenwald and VonDielingen didn’t lose a game at one doubles, while Pollert and Nathan Voelker topped the Saints 6-0, 6-1 at two doubles.
Trinity’s Jace Crockett had his hands full at No. 1 singles falling to Cole Perkins 6-1, 6-3.
The Cougars’ Jerry Jiang was unable to take the courts for a tie-breaker against James Akers at two singles. Jiang won the first set 7-6 (8-6), then lost the second set 6-2.
“I just hope Jerry is OK,” Baker said. “He needs go get his rest. He was real tensed up in his calf and he couldn’t continue.”
Baker was pleased with the way his kids served the ball against the Saints but notes they still need some more practice.
“Most of them served pretty well,” he said. “There is still some work we need to do on our second serves but that is just needing more practice.”
Still, with wins a bit of rarity for the Cougars, Baker is glad they were able to get one.
“It was a great win,” he said. “I’m glad we got it. As long as they stay positive and stay strong, expecting to win in the beginning, I think we can pull it out [against South Central].”
The Cougars will be back on the courts today at South Central High School at 5 p.m.