Panthers Rout Robinson 22-1

In Pre-Regional Warm-Up

    The Panther Tennis Team defeated Robinson this Tuesday, October 18, 2004.  The Panthers Routed the Rockets 22-1 in the final Pre-Regional warm-up.  "This was a great chance for us to see some different faces before the Region II Team Tennis Tournament," Coach Simonek.

    The Panthers started out with a sweep of the Rockets in the Doubles match play, taking an early 7-0 lead.  "We really seemed to get things rolling in the doubles.  All the pieces have started to fall into place in the strategies.  The veterans clicked right in, we are seeing better success now as the new players are buying into the concepts," Coach Simonek.  Winning matches for the Panthers in Doubles were Martindale/Harder, Hudson/McCarter, Palladino/Kidwell, McCarter/Allinson, Dunlap/Rivera, Foster/Myers and the mixed doubles tandem of Miller/Harrell.

    The Panthers continued to roll in the singles match play.  The Panthers swept each match in the singles play.  Leading the way for the Panthers in the singles were Zane Martindale, Evan Harder, and Jon Kidwell.  "This is a great group of senior guys.  They have won a lot of matches for us this year, combined they are 44-6 in singles match play.  That is an awesome win/loss record.  These guys will be a huge part of our Regional success," Coach Simonek.  Also winning matches for the Panthers were Jon Hudson, Ben McCarter, Mark Palladino, and Ross Natividad.

    The Pantherettes also continued their dominance of the Rockets, taking seven of the eight matches played.  Leading the way for the Pantherettes was Brittany Dunlap.  "Brittany has done a great job this year.  She always has a plan of what she wants to do in her match, but if it is not working she makes adjustments well to do what is needed to get the win," Coach Simonek.  Also winning matches for the Pantherettes were Lizzie McCarter, Alex Foster, Elizabeth Allinson, Colleen Myers, Saemmul Lee, and Amanda Alvarado.

    The Panthers will travel to Grapevine next weekend to compete in the Region II Team Tennis Tournament.  "We are very excited about the Regional Tournament.  This is by far the toughest Region in the State, with over 8 teams ranked in the State top 20.  The players will be ready and fired up to face the competition," Coach Simonek.