This Week in Tandem Sports

Okay, now unfreeze. Claire's serve shoots over the net, just barely, as Wakefield scrambles to return it. With the match on the line, Claire dominated the latter portion of the second set, delivering serve after serve when Tandem needed it most.  The score was tied at 18 before she ran off 5 straight beautiful serves! Ella then added two more powerful serves and wrapped up Tandem's first victorious set of the season - a goal the squad has been working for since day one and achieved through hard work!!

 

Catriona opened the match with an excellent dig, providing Tandem's first point in the opening set. Next, Taylor's three straight serves provided the Badgers with key points. Later, when Wakefield dug out one of her serves, Ellia set Talia for a beautiful spike and a side out. From there, the team work really came into focus. First Maeve had a perfect set for Ginger in the middle. Victoria continued her blocking prowess at the net and then Ella ran off three aces in a row (which really got the crowd buzzing) and the Badgers took a 13-8 lead. Wakefield took a timeout - a common theme - as they needed to do so later in the set when Kaylee delivered on three consecutive serves to give the Badgers a 23-20 lead. While Wakefield rallied back to take the first set, Tandem did not hang their heads.

 

The second set began with Thea getting super low to dig out a tough hit from Wakefield and Emory setting up Cora for a big hit to tie the score. Then Claire ran off five points with her serve (did I mention that she has a vicious serve?) some of which were saved by Ellia diving to the ground to make beautiful digs!

 

Later in the set, which was tight throughout, Cora had two tough serves to tie the score at 10. Wakefield was excited to close out the match in straight sets, but Emory had other plans. After a perfect set from Ellia, Emory showed off her power - slamming the ball across the court with an equal amount of power and perfect placement! The fans in the crowd turned their backs for fear that they might get hit by the ball screaming towards them - but instead it landed sharply in the corner!

 

Thea followed up Emory's big hit with a clutch serve, and then the team led 15-14 before Emory went to the back line for two overhand aces. Right in the middle of the set, there was an epic rally. The ball went back and forth over the net eight times, typically with three hits on each. At the end of the rally, Ella delivered a key hit - and the Badgers took a two point lead.

 

Cora was incredible in the middle. At nearly 6' tall, Cora was able to deliver powerful hits and overhead bumps back across the net. That two point difference seemed like a big lead for such a close battle, but it only expanded as Claire and then Ella served in clutch fashion, and the Badgers tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-18 second set victory! 

 

In the final stanza, Emory got low, diving to the floor to dig out a big hit from the opponent. While the ball was in the air, Ellia backhanded it for a key point early in the set. The team was down 8-4, but Thea brought them back, running off four straight points on her serves. The Badgers tied the match at 8! 

 

Wakefield then ran off two points, but Emory proved to be a momentum shifter once again. She delivered consecutive aces - giving Tandem a 12-10 lead late in the third and decisive set. Tandem added a key point when Thea set up Ella for a big hit, pushing the match to game point!

 

The Badgers gave it their absolute all for the entirety of the match. With intensity and grit, this team worked together and their enormous improvement was on full display. This match featured three tight sets - and Tandem gave Wakefield everything they could handle, as the JV squad earned their first victorious set of the season (and nearly had 2!)

 

Congratulations to this extraordinary team of hard working players, and to Coaches Elize and Emily. The sky's the limit! The squad returns to action on Thursday, 9/19 when they play at EMS at 5:30.

 

Tandem set the tone during warm-ups, building off of their big win on Friday and delivering massive hits toward the opposing side. You could feel the energy sucked out of the opponent as they watched Maggie, Tessa and Chloe mash the ball over the net - long before the match had even started. Fair enough - this squad is incredible. When the game did begin, it was more of the same, Tandem playing at a high level and smashing the ball into oblivion!

 

With a focus this week on serving percentage in practice, Sophia casually rattled off 10 consecutive serves to open the match. Many of them were aces, and when Wakefield managed to return them, Sophia moved up to set Maggie for a powerful spike! With the badgers up double digits, Tessa smartly pushed her shot over the Wakefield blockers. She had already established her hitting prowess (is there anyone in the GPAC that doesn't fear Tessa) so she varied her approach - sometimes slamming the ball past the front line and other times dropping it like a pot of gold into the base of the rainbow.  

 

With the Badgers up 13-5, Golden had an excellent pass to Sophia who set Maggie for a monster slam right down the line. A few moments later, Chloe did the same on the other side of the court! Then Maya cranked off a few aces, Mary had a massive hit in the middle and Chloe threw in a terrifying jump serve. Tessa closed out the set with an excellent block, and the Badgers opened the match with a 25-10 first set victory.

 

In the second set, Elizabeth was unstoppable. With seven accurate serves in a row, Elizabeth set the team up for success - literally and figuratively.  She also came from her back corner position to set Lola who slammed the ball into the ground.  Tandem led 10-1 when Mary's hit crept over the net and Wakefield called timeout. Maggie pretty much closed out the set with her jump serves - which are electrifying - as Tandem won the second set with ease 25-8!

 

The third set went back and forth. With big contributions from Zella, who had a big hit and a great pass to Maggie, the team tied the score 5-5. Mary had a huge blast from the middle and it was tied again when Maggie changed the momentum with a big block. The set also included Beatrice's massive cross court hit and Elizabeth's flick over the net. Despite all these highlights, Wakefield took the third set 25-20.

 

After that, Sophia was done messing around. Just as she had done to open the match, Sophia ran off FIFTEEN straight serves (Lili and I were pretty sure she'd just score all 25). Maya and Mary both delivered some massive hits while Tessa pushed the ball right over the outstretched arms of the blockers in between the Wakefield defense.  

 

The Badgers led 24-8 when Maggie got low and dug out a tough Wakefield serve - to which Coach Kalina shouted "that's my 6'1" back row!" Maggie finished off the match with another strong serve, and Tandem won their second consecutive league game 3-1.

 

The Varsity squad returns to action on Tuesday, 9/17 at 5:00 at RMA. Seniors will practice tomorrow 5:30 - 6:30 and Wednesday 5:45 - 6:45.

Enjoy your trips! Go Badgers!