After opening the season with a volley of tournaments and dual matches, the Clarkston varsity tennis team is beginning to take shape.
After one week of play, the Wolves stand at 1-0-1 on the year and two second place finishes at invites.
‘We’ve only had two practices so far this season. It will be nice to get some practice time in,? said Clarkston Coach Kyleen Cunningham.
The Wolves strength lies in their singles players: returning individual state champions Stephanie Parkison and Alyssa Lucas; number three single Darylann Trout and number four single freshman Nicole Janek. Clarkston’s doubles are overshadowed partly by the high talent level of the singles players, but also by their relative lack of experience.
The schism between the singles and doubles showed in Clarkston’s first dual match of the season at Andover on Aug. 24. The match ended in a 4-4 tie, with all the singles winning their flights and all the Wolves? doubles tandems losing.
‘The doubles are coming along,? said Cunningham, who feels the doubles will improve throughout the season as they become more experienced.
Clarkston needed a contribution from their doubles on Aug. 25 to finish in second place at the Troy Invitational. The number two doubles pairing of Kate Cooley and Alissa Crawford won their consolation bracket, helping the Wolves to a runner-up finish to Farmington Hills Mercy. All four of Clarkston’s singles players reached the finals at Troy; Lucas, Trout and Janek won their flights.
With little time to rest on their laurels after a strong showing at Troy, Clarkston dispatched Farmington 5-3, on Aug. 25. Again, all the singles players vanquished their opponents and Clarkston got a three-set victory from the number three doubles team of Kayla Sweeney and Jasmin Olinger.
To make a long week longer, thunderstorms turned the Holly Invitational on Aug. 27 into a 14-hour day for the Wolves. Not letting the delays get to them, Clarkston finished in second place, behind Farmington Hills Mercy once again.
‘We’re going to see Mercy two more times at invites and at regionals and states,? said Cunningham.
All of Clarkston’s singles players won their flights at Holly. The number two doubles team took third place and the number four doubles pairing of Andrea Scarlett and Katelyn Brown finished in second.
The Wolves only have one match scheduled in the coming week. Clarkston plays at Berkley on Aug. 31 and then is off until Sept. 6 when they will face off against Lake Orion.