LINDEN — Fountain Central girls tennis may have some new faces and some new girls in some new spots in 2023. That hasn’t stopped the Mustangs from continuing to have success in this young tennis season. On a blustery Wednesday our at North Montgomery FC battled the Chargers and the Mustangs were able to improve to 3-1 on the season with a 5-0 sweep.
Junior Haley Webb got things going for the Mustangs with a 6-1, 6-1 win over North Montgomery’s Paige Hudson at one singles. Sophomore Alydia Mellady defeated Sydney Neideffer 6-1, 6-0 at two singles. Rounding out the singles spots for the Mustangs was fellow sophomore Josie Harshbarger as she was victorious at three singles over North Montgomery’s Abigail Allen 6-4, 6-1.
Longtime Mustang coach David Kight is pleased with how his team has begun it’s season as they’re still learning out on the court.
“The experienced players that we have returning for us are at the top of our lineup and that shows,” Kight said. “Haley and Alydia have both moved up to one and two singles while Hannah and Marylee have moved up from two to one doubles. Haley has provided us with a steady presence at the top and she’s better athletically than she was last year. Alydia I think is a better singles player than she was at doubles last year and you never quite know how that transition is going to go. She’s also very coach-able and wants to get better.”
The duo of Hannah Prickett and Marylee Muniz for the Mustangs defeated North Montgomery’s Shayna Ratcliff and Reagan Little 6-1, 6-1. Rounding out the wins for FC at two doubles was junior Kendall Eberly and Freshman Laney Hoagland as they took care of Sarika Gabhwala and Dayanna Reyes 6-1, 6-3.
Second-year Charger coach Lori Guard noted how her young team is focusing on the little goals during their matches as they continue to improve.
“We wanted to come and try and win some games and we were able to do that,” she said. “That was one of our goals. These girls are working very hard and you can tell that they are taking what we trying to work on in practice and trying it during our matches. They’re a great group to work with and will only get better as the season goes on.”
Kight also is content with where his team is at and knows that there’s still plenty of season left to where his group can continually fine tune things to be even better.
“It was a difficult night with the wind and our girls faced some adversity with having to deal with that,” he said. “We’re going to grow from a night like tonight and we’ll grow after every match. I’m looking forward to seeing lots of growth from our three singles and two doubles this year simply because of their in-experience. We’re four matches in and there’s plenty of season of left. I’m pleased with the effort and attitude that we’ve shown so far.”
The Chargers will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Lebanon as will the Mustangs when they are back at home to welcome a very talented Greencastle team.
