Boys and Girls Tennis: Leading Up to Districts

Both the boys and girls tennis teams at South have had relative success so far this season. On April 28 the boys played North and won 6-2.
“The season is going pretty good. We’ve been pretty successful,” Lindsay Flood ‘16 said.
The mixed doubles tournament took place on May 3. This entails that a randomized selection took place, playing one girl player with one boy. The girls won against McMinnville 5-3, while the boys lost 2-6.
“We drew names out of a hat and I got paired with the boys number one,” Flood said. “Which is really good for me because I don’t really play tennis other than this year and we won.”
Mixed doubles was won by Flood and Alex Tudor ‘18. Tudor left later on, however, and was replaced by the boys’ coach, James Heyen. Jimin Lee ‘16 and Kaitlin Paluska ‘17 also played in the finals.
Top players on the boys’ team include Sam Malik ‘17, Ben Geyer ‘17, Trenton Bastasch ‘17, Lee, and Tudor. Loryn and Jillian Studer ‘17 are among the top players for South’s girls team at home.
“I’m playing doubles with my sister Loryn and we’re undefeated currently,” J. Studer said.
They were both honored on April 29 as the Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Athlete of the Week.
“It was with my sister it was very exciting,” J. Studer said, “because I’ve never gotten it before so it really meant a lot to get it with my sister.”
The Dual BTN Meet was on May 5 at 4:00 against Forest Grove at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club and was the last match of the season. Boys won against Forest Grove 5-3, while girls won 6-2. This adds up to a two match upset after they beat McMinnville on May 3. As a pair, J. Studer and Jessica Miller ‘16 won in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
This win gave the girls team the 3rd place position as they head into next week’s district tournament. Matches will be held on Thursday, May 12, and Friday, May 13, at McMinnville, and at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club on Saturday.
“[My strategy is to] not get frustrated,” Flood said, “and to keep playing as hard as I can.”