Improving Vandals tennis squad drops pair

Though the season is still young, Vandalia tennis coach Kevin Schroeder believes his team has already surpassed its level of play from last season.
“I think we’re already better than last year,” Schroeder said. “At the beginning of the season, I was thinking if we won three matches, that would be pretty good.
“Now, I think we could win four, five, six matches.”
Schroeder evidenced his point, explaining how the doubles team of Cassie Goodin and Micah Dugan rallied to almost win its doubles match against Hillsboro last Thursday, even though Hillsboro had already won enough matches to clinch a victory.
Trailing 3-0 early, Goodin and Dugan inched their way back throughout the match against Katie Wallace and Anna Thacker, but Hillsboro’s duo eventually put them away with a 10-8 tally to give Hillsboro a 9-0 shutout.
“They could have completely folded on that because they were down 3-0,” Schroeder said. “They played a good match, and it was close all the way. Being competitive helps them psychologically.”
Playing competitively against superior players can also improve a player’s game, Schroeder said.
By holding a brief conference with each of his players following their matches, he ensured they realized their mistakes and would learn from them.
“You go out and you play your match,” Schroeder said. “When you play a team that’s better than you, it’s not always bad that you lose to them.
“But you can learn by playing a better team, and that prepares you for your other matches.”
Schroeder sent a similar message to his team after it was shut out by Marquette Catholic earlier in the season. The team bounced back from that match to shut out Taylorville the next week.
The message was probably sent again on Tuesday after the team dropped a match against Effingham 8-1. Schroeder is still optimistic about his team's chances, though.
“If we’re at .500 (by season’s end), I’ll be tickled to death,” Schroeder said.
Tuesday, Sept. 14
vs. Effingham
Singles
No. 1 Natasha Opfer (V) loss to No. 1 Morgan McWhorter; 1-6, 0-6
No. 2 Lauren Wasmuth (V) loss to No. 2 Rachel Gouchenover; 0-6, 0-6
No. 3 Cassie Goodin (V) loss to No. 3 Meghan Scott; 0-6, 0-6
No. 4 Micah Dugan (V) loss to No. 4 Katie Silva; 1-6, 1-6
No. 5 Callie George (V) loss to No. 5 Madisson Hauke; 0-6, 1-6
No. 6 Abby Hickerson (V)  loss to No. 6 Anna Percival; 4-6, 0-6
Doubles
No. 1 Opfer/Wasmuth loss to No. 1 Gouchenover/Silva; 2-10
No. 2 Goodin/Dugan loss to No. 2 Scott/Hauke; 0-10
No. 3 George/Hickerson win vs. No. 3 Brooke Altman/Elaine Petty; 8-7 (10-8)
JV Doubles
No. 1 Chelsey Stewart/Karlee Brimberry won 8-0
No. 2 Paige Ehrat/Bailey Jones lost 4-6
No. 3 Emilie Britt/Jorden Boren lost 1-6
Thursday, Sept. 9
Hillsboro 9
Vandalia 0
Singles
No. 1 Opfer loss to No. 1 Megan Williamson; 1-10
No. 2 Wasmuth loss to No. 2 Holly Pianfetti; 1-10
No. 3 Goodin loss to No. 3 Katie Wallace; 2-10
No. 4 Dugan loss to No. 4 Ashley Jones; 4-10
No. 5 George loss to No. 5 Arianna Clark; 3-10
No. 6 Hickerson loss to No. 6 Courtney Taylor, 1-10
Doubles
No. 1 Opfer/Wasmuth loss to No. 1 Williamson/Pianfetti; 2-10
No. 2 Goodin/Dugan loss to No. 2 Wallace/Anna Thacker; 8-10
No. 3 George/Hickerson loss to No. 3 Clark/Carly Vunetich; 6-10
JV Doubles
No. 1 Stewart/Brimberry lost 6-3
No. 2 Ehrat/Jones lost 6-1
No. 3 Britt/Jorden lost 6-2
No. 4 Brittany Cook/Erika Blackwell lost 6-4
No. 5 Jenna Telser/Kayla Murray won 6-1
No. 6 Stewart/Murray lost 6-4