MISHAWAKA — It’s a complete new world this 12 months for each Dani Graham and Libby Yergler, however in several methods.
Whereas Graham navigates her first varsity tennis season with out doubles accomplice Gracie Velasco, Yergler is simply attempting to study highschool tennis.
The uncommon senior/freshman No. 1 doubles pairing for the South Bend Saint Joseph ladies tennis group this spring has already discovered success, together with a 6-1, 6-0 towards Penn Thursday to assist the No. 2-state ranked Huskies full a 5-0 sweep of the No. 19 Kingsmen in Northern Indiana Convention motion.
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“I believe having Dani with Libby is a good combo as a result of (Dani) is so skilled in doubles that she may also help (Libby) with issues to search for and what to anticipate,” Saint Joseph coach Invoice Mountford mentioned. “I even mentioned it to them throughout their match (Thursday): in singles, you’re hitting the ball each single level. You possibly can play as much as 4 factors in a row doubtlessly and never even contact the ball in doubles. You need to be prepared.”
Serving to Graham and Yergler is a mixed household historical past with Saint Joseph tennis. Graham’s older sister, Kayla, is a 2020 Saint Joe graduate, whereas Yergler’s older sister, Maddie, graduated in 2018. Maddie completed because the IHSAA particular person state runner-up her senior 12 months earlier than taking part in collegiately at DePaul College.
Since Yergler knew the Huskies’ prime three of senior Molly Bellia, senior Ashi Amalnathan and junior Anni Amalnathan had been locked into the highest three singles spots on the group, the freshman figured she’d discover a roster spot in a doubles tandem. She truly paired up with Graham throughout a summer time match in case they had been put collectively on the highschool group.
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“It’s been tremendous enjoyable,” Yergler mentioned. “Dani is a good doubles accomplice. It’s been good leaping in as a result of she has nice vitality, so it’s tremendous enjoyable to play along with her. It’s an uplifting and constructive setting. … I’ve all the time beloved taking part in doubles. I’ve performed it at tournaments in the summertime and had nice success to this point.”
Taking part in doubles has develop into second nature for Graham, who’s been within the No. 1 slot for almost all of her highschool profession. It was a overseas idea to her 4 years in the past, although, so she understands what Yergler goes via.
Given she’s the senior, Graham is attempting to assist the youthful Yergler as a lot as she will be able to.
“I believe I’ve a go-getting persona, so attending to play along with her is actually enjoyable,” Graham mentioned. “I keep in mind the nerves I had after I was a freshman, taking part in these massive groups and the stage we play on. So, if (Yergler) will get nervous, I can go, ‘I’ve been right here earlier than, we’ve bought this’; form of carry her up as we’re taking part in. It helps me be higher, too.”
With Bellia and the Amalnathan sisters on the prime of the lineup, will probably be powerful for many groups to beat Saint Joseph. Ought to one in all them slip and lose a match, nevertheless, Mountford is assured in his No. 1 doubles pairing to be there to select up the slack.
“We’re attempting to be the perfect we could be, and we’re attempting to be the very best within the state,” Mountford mentioned. “There have been groups which have gained a state title with simply three gamers, however you’re threading the needle. It simply takes one lady to have a nasty day to lose the match, so there may be going to be a time the place we rely on one or each of our doubles groups to attempt to win a match for us. We completely need them to be pretty much as good as they probably could be.”
Saint Joseph 5, Penn 0
SINGLES
No. 1 — Molly Bellia def. Aileen Hu, 6-0, 6-2. No. 2 — Ashi Amalnathan def. Anna Yoon, 6-0, 6-0. No. 3 — Anni Amalnathan def. Samantha Pischalko, 6-0, 6-0.
DOUBLES
No. 1 — Dani Graham/Libby Yergler def. Scarlett Biever/Clarissa Schmitt, 6-1, 6-0. No. 2 — Anna Walsh/Ella Michaels def. Angelina Smith/Maren Woelfer, 7-5, 1-6, 12-10 (tremendous tiebreaker as an alternative of full third set)
This text initially appeared on South Bend Tribune: Graham, Yergler type unlikely doubles pair for South Bend Saint Joseph ladies tennis
