The Saline Reporter
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Hornet girls finally back on the court
Saline looks to improve on previous season's trip to state
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 13, 2008
Thanks to the Michigan High School Athletic Association 2007-2008 season switch, the Saline girls' tennis team hasn't taken the court together since the fall of 2006.
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But with the Hornets preparing for this week's season debut at Troy's Midnight Madness meet Saturday, Saline head coach Andy BeDell said his team still feels energized by their first-ever team trip to the state tournament their previous season.
"We don't feel like we've lost any momentum," BeDell said of the layoff. "Everybody's very focused and ready to go. We're looking forward to getting going. It's fun. Everybody's excited."
BeDell is hopeful that momentum can carry them back to state — past regional and league rivals Ann Arbor Pioneer and Huron — and even higher up the final standings than last season.
"Our ultimate goal is to win Regionals, go to state and finish higher than fifth," he said. "We're confident we can do that.
"But it's one practice, one match at a time. We're going to enjoy the ride and not get too far ahead of ourselves."
That confidence comes not only from the Hornets' success last season, but from the number of players who return after having experienced it.
Ten Saline letterman return, including state No. 2 singles runner-up Niki Shipman, third singles player Bethany French, fourth singles player Casey Baxter, and the state semifinalist doubles team of Sarah Sidlow and Kate Wooliscroft.
Also returning will be doubles players Kelli Tice, Sarah Cowen, Dayani Waas, Julie Blackhall and Megan Geiger.
"It has been 18 months, but they haven't stayed static," BeDell said. "Everyone's improved. They've been working hard and they know what to expect."
Add the returnees to a sizable and talented batch of newcomers, which BeDell was still evaluating for a final roster at press time, and the Hornets will enter 2008 with what could be a strong top-to-bottom lineup.
"I think we'll be very deep," BeDell said. "I think we've got a good chance at winning matches at lower doubles, particularly. We should be better there than we've been in the past."
The Troy meet, which starts 8 p.m. Saturday and will run past midnight, will be a "good opportunity to see what we can do with our lineup," BeDell said.
It will be an opportunity he might need after the unseasonably cold weather has forced the Hornets off their usual practice courts and into area indoor facilities.
BeDell said it's not ideal, but it hasn't stopped the Hornets from making the most of their time together, including a ramped-up "core fitness" conditioning program BeDell expects to pay dividends.
"The kids and the parents have to be a little more flexible with the schedule, and it limits us a little bit. We're anxious to get outside and have a full practice," he said. "But no one else is doing anything we're not doing. We're going to find a way."
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