Junior, Sydni Ratliff, slamming the ball with a strong forehand as she wins the point against opponent, Olentangy Orange, during last week’s match. (Sari Shockett’22/Media)
The Columbus Academy girls tennis team faced some of its stiffest competition yet, playing its way to three huge victories and two losses against top teams, bringing their total record to 7-3.
The Vikings kicked off the week with a 4-1 win against Bishop Watterson on Wednesday, September 4. Carolyn Tsung’21 conquered at first singles, winning 6-3, 6-0, with senior Alex Graham not far behind at second singles and a 6-0, 6-3 win. Anna Chang’23 defeated her opponent 6-3, 6-4 at third singles, while Lauren Motta’21 and Naomi Chen’23 steamrolled their competitors at first doubles, winning 6-1, 6-4. Emily Motta’23 and Sophia Sommer’21 battled hard for the last match of the day, but were outlasted by the Watterson Eagles, losing 2-6, 4-6.
Our girls dominated against Wellington on Thursday, September 5, finishing with a 5-0 win. Junior Sydni Ratliff triumphed over her opponent at first singles with a clean 6-0, 6-0 win, while Graham pushed through a tough match, outlasting her opponent 2-6, 6-2, 10-7. Chang wrapped up the singles matches with a strong 6-0, 6-2 victory, as Lauren Motta and Chen followed, also winning 6-0, 6-2. As the matches came to a close, Emily Motta and Sommer brought it home at second doubles, with a final score of 6-2, 6-0.
The Vikings then took on the D1 champ Mason High School on Friday, September 6, but were outlasted 2-3 in the last three matches of the day. Ratliff beat her first singles opponent 3-6, 7-5, 10-3, while Tsung followed with a 6-4, 3-6, 13-11 win at second singles. Sommer fought hard, but was overwhelmed with a 1-6, 1-6 loss at third singles, while Chang and Graham were defeated by their first doubles rivals 0-6, 0-6. Lauren Motta and Chen pushed to win the final match, but the competition was too steep, and the girls lost 3-6, 2-6.
On Saturday, September 7, the Vikings travelled south starting the weekend with a 3-2 win over Cincinnati Hill Christian Academy. At first singles, Tsung was defeated 1-6, 2-6, but Graham brought it back with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 win. Chang conquered her opponent at third singles, winning 6-1, 6-1. Ratliff and Lauren Motta continued the momentum with a 6-4, 6-0 victory, winning the overall match for the Vikings.
Later that Saturday, the Vikes played the top D2 team in Ohio, losing to Indian Hill 2-3. Tsung kicked off the match with a solid 6-0, 6-0 win, while Graham followed at second singles with a 7-5, 6-2 victory. Chen fought hard, but was overwhelmed and lost 3-6, 4-6. Playing first doubles, Ratliff and Lauren Motta were edged out 4-6, 2-6, with Emily Motta and Sommer finished the match with an unfortunate 3-6, 2-6 loss.
The Vikes hope to rebound on Wednesday, September 11, with an away match against Olentangy Liberty, before playing CSG at home on Thursday, September 12.
