Hey WO Tennis Family, Wow! The score of 5-4 somehow doesn't even show how close this match was. First, let's set the stage... This was the final duel match of the OK-Red Conference Season. Both us and Rockford entered the match undefeated, with West Ottawa ranked #7 in the state and Rockford ranked #9. It was an away match for us, on Rockford's newly built tennis complex. Winner goes into the conference tournament next Saturday in the first place position. Rockford came out STRONG in the match, winning the first set at 6 of the 9 flights. Even the second sets weren't looking completely promising at the start. Every flight fought hard no matter what the score, and as the match drew on, it got closer and closer. After six matches were played to completion, Rockford had a 4-2 lead. Evie Price took a strong win at 1st singles and Danielle Lebster followed suit at 2nd singles. The only flights still on court were Kate Greco/Haylee Geerlings at 5th doubles, Kallyn Gaul/Lovelle Kim at 2nd doubles, and Kayla Jones at 4 singles. We needed to win all three remaining matches to get the win. At 5th doubles, Kate and Haylee won the first set quickly, but Rockford upped their play and the second set was tight. It went back and forth, and eventually the score showed 6-6, and the start of a tiebreaker. Both Kate and Haylee showed tremendous play and poise, and closed out the match. Match score is now 3-4 overall. At this point, 2 dubs and 4 singles are both in must win 3rd sets. The next to pull away was Kallyn and Lovell at 2 doubles. After dropping the first set 4-6, they learned from it, improved, and took the second set 6-3. In the third, they simply continued to gain confidence in their must win situation. They took the 3rd set 6-1, tying the overall match 4-4. At this point, every player, coach, and parent was now around the 4 singles court, watching Kayla Jones take on the talented freshman, Ella Fix. Kayla had also dropped the first set, then used the second set to find a game plan that would give her the edge. By the third set, Kayla was rolling. With everyone at the facility cheering their teams on, Kayla won the 3rd set 6-0, sealing a 5-4 victory. I couldn't be any prouder of our girls, regardless of whether they won or lost their individual match. We had 14 girls out their playing their hardest for themselves, their partner, and their team. Everyone played hard to the very end in a way that they could sleep well knowing they put in a full effort. What's next? Well, on Saturday, we will be taking on literally the toughest competition possible. #1 ranked Clarkston will be coming into town to take us on, followed by #4 Northville, and finally Okemos, unranked but with a strong tennis tradition. Ladies, well done today and rest up tonight, because there's a lot of fun tennis ahead. Once again, I'm so proud of you. Full match results are posted below. -Pete Schwallier Holland West Ottawa - 5, Rockford - 4, Singles: No. 1 - Evie Price, Holland West Ottawa def. Maya Clark, Rockford, 6-0 , 6-2 No. 2 - Danielle Lebster, Holland West Ottawa def. Sophie Burns, Rockford, 6-2 , 6-1 No. 3 - Grace Ferry, Rockford def. Jessica Zhang, Holland West Ottawa, 6-3 , 7-6 No. 4 - Kayla Jones, Holland West Ottawa def. Ella Fix, Rockford, 3-6 , 6-4 , 6-0 Doubles: No. 1 - Avery Marchlewski, Rockford - Alayna Gee, Rockford def. Eden Hamilton, Holland West Ottawa - Maggie Rothstein, Holland West Ottawa, 6-1 , 6-1 No. 2 - Kallyn Gaul, Holland West Ottawa - Lovelle Kim, Holland West Ottawa def. Kayleigh Koster, Rockford - Lydia Brown, Rockford, 4-6 , 6-3 , 6-1 No. 3 - Sage Brownwell, Rockford - Halle De Man, Rockford def. Aleah Feliu, Holland West Ottawa - Olivia Smith, Holland West Ottawa, 6-4 , 7-5 No. 4 - Carlie Wegener, Rockford - Sadie Debski, Rockford def. Audrey Anderson, Holland West Ottawa - Mallory Paff, Holland West Ottawa, 6-2 , 6-2 No. 5 - Kate Greco, Holland West Ottawa - Haylee Geerlings, Holland West Ottawa def. Kate Coyle, Rockford - Chloe Elizondo, Rockford, 6-2 , 7-6