SETTING THE SCENE: The MHS varsity tennis squad won’t be as busy as last week, but challenges await the Eagles in the week ahead. Junior Amanda Reinhart is off to another strong start, and the young team hopes to follow suit by gaining experience with every match played. The Eagles are still looking for their first victory as they sit at 0-2 in the ECC, and 0-5 overall.
A LOOK BACK: The Eagles were tested last week, as all three of the four programs they faced were ranked in the top ten of the area coaches’ polls.
Milford hosted #9 Mt. Notre Dame for their first match on the home court of the season. Reinhart held her own at first singles as she faced Kelly Neuhaus, who was named to the Division I first team All-State Tennis Team in 2015. Neuhaus took the first set 3-6, yet Reinhart fought back for a 7-5 win to even the match. Though Reinhart made her work for it, Neuhaus did claim the win, with a 6-7 (5-7) final set. The Eagles lost to Mt. Notre Dame 5-0, with remaining scores as follows: S. Worthoff d. Mallory Faler 6-0, 6-3; M. Klug d. Leah Breuer 6-0, 6-1; G. Nunn-C. Golt d. Claire LaFrance/Nicole Spencer 6-1, 6-1; C. Bowling/C. Bowling d. Emma Neal-Olivia Bieber 6-0, 6-0.
Milford headed to #7 Walnut Hills for a league date on Tues., Aug. 23. Coach Smalley was pleased with the overall improvement in team play, though the Eagles fell 4-1. Reinhart was the lone Eagle victor, d. L. O’Toole 6-1, 6-0. J. Hall d. Faler 6-4, 6-1; O. Reblando d. Breuer 6-0, 6-1; K. Hannah/C. Cappanie d. Emme Thomas/Spencer 6-2, 6-0; G. Nelsaw/K. Lawson d. LaFrance/Neil 6-2, 6-1.
Sycamore B made a trip to Milford High’s home tennis courts on Thurs., Aug. 25 for a non-conference battle that was won by Sycamore, 4-1. Reinhart blanked S. Sotropa in first singles, 6-0, 6-0, while Faler fell to M. Ringer 6-3, 6-2 and A. Pescovitz d. Breuer in third singles, 6-2, 6-2. In doubles play, S. Chen/M. Fuduka d. Thomas/Spencer 6-0, 6-0, and LaFrance/Neil fell to L. Guo/E. Reddy 6-0, 6-4.
In the final match of a demanding week, Milford made a visit to take on Mariemont, #6 in Division II. The win streak reached three for Milford’s Reinhart at first singles, as she easily dispatched G. Haffner of Mariemont, 6-1, 6-1. In an exciting day for second singles, Faler recorded the win in the first set 4-6, but Lackney came back to win the match with wins of 6-1, 6-2 in the next two sets. Breuer fell to Y. Spiegel 4-6, 2-6; J. Bortz/E. Worple d. LaFrance/Spencer 6-0, 6-1; and M. McNeil/A. Linder d. Thomas/Neil, 6-1, 6-0. Mariemont won the day overall, 4-1.
THE WEEK AHEAD: The varsity tennis squad won’t be nearly as busy as last week, with just two matches on the schedule. However, Milford will host Seven Hills, who last week was ranked #2 in the coaches’ poll for Division II girls programs, and the Eagles will take a trip to the ECC’s Anderson.
- Monday, 8/29: Seven Hills High School @ Milford, 4:00 pm
- Tuesday, 8/30: Milford @ Anderson High School, 4:00 pm
INSIDE THE ECC: The Eagles are hopeful to collect their first conference win this week against Anderson, as they currently are 0-2 in the ECC. Turpin leads the league at 3-0 (5-1 overall), followed by Walnut Hills at 1-0. Loveland and Kings are both even at 1-1, while Anderson and Glen Este are both 0-1. Reinhart leads the league at first singles, with an ECC record of 2-0.
POLL WATCH: Mason was ranked first once again, while Ursuline Academy edged out Sycamore to take sole possession of second in the area coaches’ poll for week three. The ECC’s Turpin moved up to fourth, and Mt. Notre Dame moved up to fifth. The ECC’s Walnut Hills is now tied for sixth with St. Ursula, and Loveland entered the poll this week in the ninth spot. Kings received four votes, but Milford received no votes and thus fell out of the poll this week.