Jacy Zollar, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Jacy Zollar Shawano Community High School No. 1 doubles player Sydney Steinbach hits a volley against New London on Thursday. Steinbach and her partner, Lydia Williams, won 6-3, 6-2, for Shawano’s only win of the day.
Leader Photo by Jacy Zollar Shawano Community High School No. 1 singles player Kaleigh Zoll serves against New London on Thursday. Zoll lost, 1-6, 0-6, to Kate Christian.
New London topped Shawano 6-1 in a Bay Conference match Thursday in Shawano.
“They’re always tough,” Shawano coach Matt Zoll said. “They’ve got a a good program and we have a fairly inexperienced team, so despite the loss I’m proud of how hard our girls have worked this year to be able to come out and win some games on them.”
The No. 1 doubles pair, Sydney Steinbach and Lydia Williams, clinched the Hawks’ sole win, 6-3, 6-2.
“That’s the best we’ve ever played together,” Williams said. “We tried for every point there. We were ready to take them on again.”
Williams said a tough win over New London, 6-4, 6-4, earlier this season motivated the Shawano duo to be more competitive Thursday.
The seniors both played singles last year. They thought making the switch to doubles would improve their game. The move has paid off with seven victories in 10 matches.
“We didn’t do the best (at singles), but we saw different strengths in each other, so we tried playing together and saw how much better we were at doubles,” Steinbach said. “We’re playing better and having a lot of fun doing it, so it’s a good last season.”
“Their play was really strong tonight,” Zoll said. “When they had an opportunity to put a point away, they did. You can tell they were in it to get the win, and it was tough.”
The loss lowered Shawano’s record to 7-16. Xavier (25-3) leads the conference. New London (6-1) is second.
With only three of last year’s top 10 varsity players returning, a majority of the Hawks are freshmen and sophomores.
“We have a lot of new kids who never played tennis until two years ago, and now they’re good tennis players,” Zoll said.
“Everyone has really stepped up this season,” Zoll said. “Our No. 1 girls have worked hard over the summer to take on the challenge of being in the spot. I think as we continue the season we’ll see them get even better.”
New London 6, Shawano 1
Singles
No. 1 — Kate Christian, New London, def. Kaleigh Zoll, 1-6, 0-6; No. 2 — Alanna Bent, New London, def. Isabella Buettner, 0-6, 3-6; No. 3 — Annabelle Lehman, New London, def. Lina Liu, 2-6, 2-6; No. 4 — Sommer Harris, New London, def. Lydia Dobberstein, 1-6, 5-7.
Doubles
No. 1 — Sydney Steinbach-Lydia Williams, Shawano, def. Megan Pankow-Mariah Herter, 6-3, 6-2; No. 2 — Emelia Roberts-Allie Ramirez, New London, def. Megan Beaulieu-Dillenburg Danielle, 6-3, 6-2; No. 3 — Tess Ruckdashel-Lauren Winkler, New London, def. Alana Krolow-Annalyse Wilber, 1-6, 0-6.