FREMONT – The 2017 girls tennis season saw the Lady Giants enjoy tremendous success both at individual and team levels.
Ross built a 15-4 overall record, often winning easily over its non-conference opponents, and enjoyed its highest finish ever in the TRAC, fourth place.
Lily Abdoo
Gillian Gallagher
The 2018 season is set to begin Monday at 4:30 with a duel match at Clyde. While coach Lisa Wolfe is prepared for team wins being harder to come by this season, expectations are high at the top of the Lady Giants lineup.
“Last year’s calendar year, with the girls being 15-4 (in the fall) and the boys being 15-5 (in the spring), that was a gravy year,” Wolfe said. “We had a great, solid team last year. Losing three out of the (top) seven, that’s tough. Half your team is gone.”
Those who return, however, do so with high goals and expectations.
Gillian Gallagher, who posted a 10-1 singles record last year, playing primarily at No. 1, returns for her senior season, as does Lily Abdoo, who went 11-1 at No. 3 singles. Playing together at No. 1 doubles in TRAC matches and doubles tournaments, Abdoo and Gallagher combined for a 15-6 record, a third-place finish in the conference, second-place in the sectional and a district tournament berth.
Sophia Biggins
Berlin Swaisgood
Wolfe said both players worked extensively to improve in the offseason.
“I can see where they have taken lessons in the Toledo area,” Wolfe said. “They’re very strong players. We did a summer session against Findlay, that’s the first time I saw them (play a match against another opponent) and I was pretty impressed. Lily is not afraid to go to the net and finish a point. Gilly is more of baseliner who has great strength in her strokes.”
Gallagher is slated to play at No. 1 singles and Abdoo at No. 2, but Wolfe said it remains to be seen if they reunite for another run together in TRAC and tournament play.
“I told them, ‘It’s so early to be talking about this, but on the 25th, right away, we’re playing in the Pirate (Doubles) Invite and I need to know who wants to pay with who?’” Wolfe said. “Do we really want to beef up our 1 doubles or do we want to separate them and make them two solid teams?”
Vivyanna Esquivel
Lillie Swinehart
Two other returning varsity letter-runners make up the base of the Lady Giants core lineup. Seniors Berlin Swaisgood and Sophia Biggins, who each split time between singles and doubles play last year, will push one another throughout the season for No. 3 singles duty or a place on No. 1 doubles.
Swaisgood, who edged Biggins 6-3 in challenge match, will begin the year at No. 3 singles, but Wolfe said both players will happily play wherever they’re slotted in the lineup.
“That’s the great thing about those two, they all like the game of tennis, obviously, but those two are willing to do whatever is best for the team,” Wolfe said. “They have that attitude about them, I don’t think they’d be disappointed with wherever I put them.
“With Berlin having played No. 3 singles last year, I think that is a great fit. Berlin in one that never gives up on the court and she would be a great No. 3 singles,” Wolfe added. “Sophia plays good doubles, so she will team with one of the ones that were on the team last year.”
Emma Jahns
Izzy Atkinson
Returning from last year, and vying for three of the available positions on Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, are juniors Vivyanna Esquivel and Lillie Swinhart and seniors Emma Jahns and Izzy Atkinson.
“Vivyanna is doing very well in doubles round robins,” Wolfe said. “Lily Swinehart is doing very well. Emma is at band camp this week and I only got to see her for the first three days of mandatory (practice) starting Aug. 1. She’ll be in contention for 1 or 2 doubles, definitely. Izzy will probably be up there also.”
New to the team in 2018 are first-year players Hannah Fry and Amanda Wiedle, both sophomores, and freshman Alexis Huff.
| 2018 Girls Tennis Roster | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Grade | Flight | |
| Lily Abdoo | Sr. | Singles | |
| Izzy Atkinson | Sr. | Doubles | |
| Sophia Biggins | Sr. | Singles/Doubles | |
| Gillian Gallagher | Sr. | Singles | |
| Emma Jahns | Sr. | Singles/Doubles | |
| Berlin Swaisgood | Sr. | Singles/Doubles | |
| Vivyanna Esquivel | Jr. | Doubles | |
| Lillie Swinehart | Jr. | Singles/Doubles | |
| Hannah Fry | So. | Singles/Doubles | |
| Amanda Wiedle | So. | Singles/Doubles | |
| Alexis Huff | Fr. | Singles/Doubles |