TOLEDO – It’s been a season of new experiences and challenges for the Fremont Ross girls tennis team. For both the players – almost all of whom are either learning the game from scratch or playing varsity for the first time – and for Lisa Wolfe and her coaching staff, who find themselves having to explain things that are usually taken for granted.
But Tuesday evening saw the Lady Giants get rewarded for their hard work.
Ross returned home from TRAC rival Whitmer with its first victory of the season, defeating the Panthers 3-2.
“I’m just happy they finally got their first win,” Wolfe said of her team. “They’re taught that I believe they’re doing the best of their ability every time they go on the court. And it’s true, they are. They’re all playing to the best of their ability. We will continue to see that ability get better as the season goes on.”
Vivyanna Esquivel got things rolling for Ross when she won at No. 1 singles, 7-5, 6-2.
Lucy Miller then won the first match of her career at No. 3 singles with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory in which she displayed the competitive fire Wolfe has been looking for from her new players.
“Lucy, somebody that had just picked up a racket weeks ago for the first time and at No. 3 singles, I saw that determination to win,” Wolfe said. “We keep striving for ‘You got to want to win,’ because we see a lot of loose playing, if that makes sense, kids just happy to be out there, happy to hit the ball and then (get) off the court. We keep stressing, ‘You have to want to win in order to win,’ and I definitely saw it out of her. She’s just an athlete who puts extra time in on the weekends. I was happy for her, specifically.”
At No. 2 doubles, Shea Smith and Brynn Ruppert, who began the fall sport season playing volleyball before joining the tennis team, picked up the Lady Giants’ third win of the match, winning 6-5, 6-3.
“The doubles, both showed themselves,” Wolfe said. “Both doubles were very competitive, all four of them are new to the game. I’m just happy they finally got their first win.”
The tennis team returns to action tonight at 4:30 as it hosts Bowling Green.
Fremont Ross 3, Whitmer 2
No. 1 singles: Vivyanna Esquivel (FR) def. Kylie Burgess, 7-5, 6-2
No. 2 singles: Marissa Shively (W) def. Alexis Huff, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 singles: Lucy Miller (FR) def. Makenzie Givens, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
No. 1 doubles: Addison Snyder/Jenna Tschan (W) def. Morgan Shetzer/Trinity Smith, 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 doubles: Shea Smith/Brynn Ruppert (FR) def. Penelope Cervantes/Diamond Wingate, 6-5, 6-3
Ross Record (1-4 overall, 1-1 TRAC)