PREP GIRLS' TENNIS: WCDS, Parrott square off at WCC

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 24, 2018 5:51 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

The early-season matchup between perennial girls' tennis powers Wayne Country Day and Parrott Academy is usually considered a measuring stick.

Each team identifies its respective weaknesses, makes adjustments throughout the season and contends for a state dual-team title come mid-October.

Thursday afternoon's encounter at Wayne Community College, a 9-0 win by Parrott, didn't have that playoff aura that had been associated with previous meetings.

It still served the same purpose, but induced opposite reactions.

Before the Chargers stepped onto the courts, first-year head coach Paulina Delgado gathered the Chargers together. She said the pressure was on Parrott, a team that returns four of its top six players from last year's team that finished as the state 2-A runner-up.

"I told them to take this as a practice, be very loose because they have nothing to lose," Delgado said. "I'm just so proud of them because they fought for it. They showed good sportsmanship and they got a couple of games when they didn't expect to."

Parrott seized control early in doubles.

Delgado watched her team hit numerous unforced errors either in the net, wide or beyond the baseline. The Patriots posted shutouts at Nos. 2 and 3, while the Chargers' No. 1 duo of Langley Barnes-Cady Stanly took a pair of games off of Arden Riddle-Cameron Jones.

"I'm trying to work with them on their strategy in doubles because sometimes they don't know where to stand, while these girls [Parrott] have a lot of experience and know what they're doing," Delgado said. "It's about knowing where to stand, how to move because doubles is a very technical and strategic type of game."

Brad Sauls, now in his 10th campaign as the Patriots' head coach, noticed his team's uncharacteristic shaky play and footwork in their season opener.

"We looked really nervous," Sauls said. "You can tell they care and wanted to hit through the ball just like they do in practice. Some of them just didn't have their feel today. It's the way tennis works, every day is different.

"The feet weren't quite in place. It's because they want to perform at their best and sometimes the nerves take over the body. I know the quality of my team and didn't get to see that today ... little ragged."

Once the teams returned for singles play, the tempo changed a little.

Wayne Country Day (2-2 overall) extended some points with a few long volleys. Unforced errors also played a role as Parrott's players grabbed a commanding lead on every court, except No. 1.

Displaying a relaxed demeanor, Barnes nearly matched Riddle groundstroke for groundstroke as their pro set (eight-game) match progressed. Barnes trailed 5-2, but climbed to within 5-4 when she held serve and picked up a break point.

Riddle pushed her lead to 7-4, but Barnes held serve in a back-and-forth game that included a couple of deuce points. Riddle closed out the match 8-5 with a love game.

"She [Langley] told me, 'coach, I have nothing to lose' and she gave this girl a hard time," Delgado said. "I'm so proud of her."