Singles vets, new doubles teams help Rochester sweep N. Judson

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Ella McCarter Ellie Straeter Abbi St. Martin

Rochester girls tennis coach Adrian Paulik said she mulled who was going to make up the doubles teams at 9 p.m. Wednesday, about 20 hours before the season was to begin against North Judson Thursday.

There was no such dilemma in who she picked for singles.

The new doubles players combined with the more obvious picks for singles as the Lady Zs beat the Lady Jays 5-0.

Paulik picked Abbi St. Martin and freshman Ellie Straeter for No. 1 doubles, and they won 6-0, 6-4 over Danica Butler and Lily Mann.

Returnees Sophie McCall and Vivian Miller teamed up at No. 2 doubles and prevailed 6-0, 6-0 over Isabella Menn and Jordyn White.

“Very hard,” Paulik said when asked how difficult it was to pick doubles teams. “I have been going back and forth with my doubles teams until 9 p.m. last night. So our four girls that are on doubles right now and Emma Murphy, playing one JV singles, those are the five that I was between, and they are all very similar as far as skill level, and it’s a good problem to have, but it was hard to choose.”

Paulik gave the doubles players a positive review afterwards.

“I thought they did pretty well,” Paulik said. “Their communication was good. That was something that I was concerned about. Throughout practice, they did have some playing time together, all of them. But it’s hard to really focus on that true communication if you’re not sure that’s going to be your partner or not, but overall, I thought they both played really well.”

The singles players are all seniors and all back in their roles from the end of last season – Ella McCarter at No. 1, Audrey Bolinger at No. 2 and Rylee Clevenger at No. 3. They lost five games combined in six sets.

McCarter beat Grace Craig 6-1, 6-0. Bolinger handled Aubrey Selmer 6-2, 6-2. Cleveneger routed Maddie Carter 6-0, 6-0.

Paulik said she wants all three singles players read their opponents well and placed their shots well but added they need to work on “small things” in practice.

“I think moving,” Paulik said. “Getting back behind the ball sooner. That way, they’re able to fully get on top of the ball and around it. Also, their serves, I still think they need a lot of work on their serves. That’s something we’ve been working on and will continue to work on.”

McCarter, Bolinger and Clevenger are all basketball teammates, but their tennis experience varies. McCarter has been playing since she was little, but Bolinger did not start until she was a sophomore, and she said she asks McCarter for advice.

“I feel like I could definitely tell it was my first match,” Bolinger said. “My serving was way better than I anticipated it to be. There were multiple (points) that I won because of my serving. But also, I felt like there were some areas that I need to improve on, say, like my winners, I could strengthen. And then, just like getting it a little more. But overall, I thought it was decent.”

Rochester also won the JV match 3-0 with Murphy, Savannah Wolters and Elizabeth Brower all winning.

Results: Rochester 5, North Judson 0

Singles

Ella McCarter (RHS) def. Grace Craig (NJSP), 6-1, 6-0

Audrey Bolinger (RHS) def. Aubrey Selmer (NJSP), 6-2, 6-2

Rylee Clevenger (RHS) def. Maddie Carter (NJSP), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

Abbi St. Martin-Ellie Straeter (RHS) def. Danica Butler-Lily Mann (NJSP), 6-0, 6-4

Sophie McCall-Vivian Miller (RHS) def. Isabelle Mann-Jordyn White (NJSP), 6-0, 6-0

JV results: Rochester 3, North Judson 0

Singles

Emma Murphy (RHS) won 8-1.