(April 10, 2015) Many of the matches between Worcester Prep and Parkside tennis players were close during the girls’ competition on Tuesday in Berlin. The Lady Mallards were able to pull out victories and win 7-0, Coach Cyndee Hudson said, because of their “determination.”
“I was very proud. They really stepped up,” she said. “They came from behind in a couple of cases [and] they maintained a lead…A lot of the matches were close. They did not represent the final score in most cases.”
Senior Tatjana Kondraschow worked hard to earn an 8-5 victory at first singles.
“Tatjana’s was back and fourth, 2-3, 3-all, 4-3, 4-all. It went back and forth until she broke her and got ahead at 7-4 and finished it out,” Hudson said.
Senior Mattie Maull and junior Isabel Carulli won their second and third singles matches, respectively, 8-3.
Freshman Anchita Batra outscored her fifth singles opponent 8-5.
Senior Natalie Twilley and her first doubles partner, junior Erika Smith, took their match 8-3.
Sophomores Sambina Anthony and Stormy McGuinness shut out their second doubles competition 8-0.
The fourth singles match was last being played and athletes from both schools cheered on their teammates. Worcester’s Fiona Reid, a senior, fell behind early, trailing 1-4.
“I just don’t think I was into it [early in the match], like my forehand wasn’t right and then it just clicked,” Reid said.
Reid fought back to gain a 7-6 lead and said “it felt better to be more on top of the game.”
“I was just thinking, let’s just keep doing what I’m doing, let’s keep trying,” she said.
Reid came out on top 8-6.
The boys’ competition was played on the courts in Ocean Pines. The Mallards were edged out by the Rams 4-3.
“It was a real test. The boys battled,” said Worcester Coach Terry Underkoffler. “In a few matches, the games were very even. They will bounce back.”
Prep seniors Erik Zorn and Kyle Chandler logged 8-6 and 8-5 victories at second and third singles, respectively.
Freshman Brenner Maull and junior Charlie Pritchard won their second doubles match 8-0.
Worcester is scheduled to host the Salisbury School Dragons today, Friday, at 4 p.m.
On Monday, the Mallards will match up against Stephen Decatur at 4 p.m. The girls will play on Decatur’s courts in Berlin while the boys will compete at Worcester Prep.
