The players on the Reeths-Puffer girls tennis team bore down and got tough when they had to on Monday, and ended up bagging a big victory.
The Rockets won tie-breaker situations in four competitive matches and beat rival Mona Shores 6-3 in O-K Green conference action on their home court.
R-P's Hope Latsch (No. 2 singles) lost her first set 6-2, then rallied to beat Mona Shores' Ella St. Martin 6-4, 6-3 in the final two sets.
R-P's Malania Eilers
Molly Matz (No. 3 singles) edged out Aidrienne Mills 7-6 in the first set, before taking the second 6-0 to clinch her match.
Ava Dietz and Kaitlyn Darow (No. 3 doubles) split the first two sets against the Sailors, then clinched their match by winning the third 6-4.
Maddie Hutchinson and Lindsay Jeroy (No. 5 doubles) really had to battle after winning their first set 7-5. They lost the second 6-2, then dug in and won a very long tiebreaker set by a 13-11 score.
R-P's Hope Latsch
Reeths-Puffer's strength came in singles, where the Rockets won all four matches. Olivia Smith (No. 1 ) and Mylie Neel (No. 4) both won in straight sets, joining Latsch and Matz as singles winners.
"It was an incredibly close match that could have gone either way," said R-P head coach Ryan Hankinson. "I am very proud of this team for battling back for a win.
"Sweeping all four singles is indicative of the extra work those four players put into their craft. Molly Matz completely seized control of her match late in the first set tiebreaker.
R-P's Makayla Smith
"Hope Latsch’s progress in transitioning from doubles all the way to two singles is finally paying off. She is determined to reach her goals and has a never die mentality on the court.
"Many of the doubles tandems mentally got frustrated while on the court, which is never a good sign. Confidence and self-forgiveness is essential in tennis, and players learn that it can be even more important than their tennis skills, but that’s easier said than done.
"I'm very proud of sophomores Ava Dietz and Kaitlyn Durow for the growth they have shown in that regard. The two of them getting the all-important win clinched the match."
R-P's Mylie Neel 