Cardinal tennis hitting winners
Story and Photos by John Dixon

The Cardinal Newman Lady Cardinals' tennis team (l- r): Back row- Coach Amy Martin, Alex August, Tori August, Carolyn Barnick, and Evan Black; Front row- Andrea Martin, Lauren Nottoli, Adare Brown, Alexia Salone, and Chandler Degenhart. Not pictured: Lauren Delphia, Sam August.

The Cardinal Newman Lady Cardinals have gotten a sizzling hot start to the 2007 prep school tennis season. The team has lost several seniors but the August sisters, Sam, Tori and Alex are back along with Evan Black, Andrea Martin, Lauren Delphia, and Carolyn Barnick. They are joined by several newcomers.

On Tuesday August 21, the Lady Cards soundly defeated Thomas Sumter 5 to 1, losing only one singles match. Against Wilson Hall on Monday, August 27th they triumphed 7 to 2 against stiffer competition.

The Star caught up with junior, Tori August late last week to talk about her expectations for the current season. August didn't target anything specific during her summer workouts other than working up heat tolerance and keeping up her game in general. When asked about competition or challenges August said, "I'd definitely have to say my biggest competition this year will be Madison Kocher, from Hammond, because she is one of my really good friends and we have been on the same club team since 2001. She is a great player and we both know each other's game really well, which will make it even more difficult. We haven't actually played each other since we first met in a Wildewood tournament back when we were in the 12s, so I'm excited to play her."

Evan Black smacks a backhand winner.

Tori is expecting this season to be hard since the Cards lost a few skilled seniors but is confident that the new, young players joining the team this year will do a fine job filling those spots.

Scores for Cardinal Newman vs. Thomas Sumter and Cardinal Newman vs. Wilson Hall seem to bear out her optimism.

Cardinal Newman at Thomas Sumter, Tuesday, August 21, 2007: Cardinal Newman defeated Thomas Sumter 5-1. # 1 singles Emily Weiland (TS) def. Sam August (CN) 0-6, 7-5 (ret.); #2 singles Tori August (CN) def. Candace Mathews (TS) 6-0,6-0; #3 singles Lauren Delphia (CN) def. Lyndsey Wedd (TS) 6-0,6-3; #4 singles Evan Black (CN) def. Rebecca Griffin (TS) 6-0,6-1; #5 singles Andrea Martin (CN) def. Meagan Cain (TS) 6-0,6-0; #6 singles Alex August (CN) def. Meredith Snapp (TS) 6-0,6-2.

Cardinal Newman vs. Wilson Hall played at Trenholm Park Monday, August 27, 2007: Cardinal Newman defeated Wilson Hall 7-2; #1 singles-Tori August (CN) def. Sydney Kline (WH) 6-3,6-2; #2 singles-Lauren Delphia (CN) def. Elizabeth Kline (WH)6-1,6-4; #3 singles-Evan Black (CN) def. Paige Leighton (WH)6-1,6-1; #4 singles Andrea Martin (CN) def. Alston James (WH)6-3,6-2; #5 singles-Alex August (CN) def. Kelsey Campalong (WH)6- 2,6-3; #6 singles Lauren Thompson (WH) def. Carolyn Barnick (CN)6-4, 6-3; #1 doubles T August/ Delphia (CN) def S. Kline/Leighton (WH)8- 4; #2 doubles Black/ Martin (CN) def E Kline/ James (WH)8-0; #3 doubles Campalong/ Thompson(WH) def A. August/ Barnick (CN)8-5.

Match played on September 4, 2007 at Trenholm Park:Cardinal Newman 7, Ben Lippen 2. #1 singles: Tori August (CN) def. Madeline Welsh (BL); 6- 4,3-6, 1-0 (5); #2 singles Evan Black (CN) def. Ashley Latham (BL) 6-2, 6-2; #3 singles Andrea Martin (CN) def. Lauren Williams (BL) 7-5, 6-0; #4 singles Alex August (CN) def. Magdalena Laws (BL) 6-2, 6-2; #5 singles Anne Armstrong (BL) def. Carolyn Barnick (CN) 6-4, 6-1; #6 singles Adare Brown (CN) def. Morgan Tyler (BL) 6-2, 6-3; #1 doubles T. August/ Black (CN) def. Welsh/Latham (BL) 8-5; #2 doubles Martin/ A. August (CN) def. Armstrong/ Laws (BL) 8-2; #3 doubles Pope/ Wimberly (BL) def. Salone/ Nottoli (CN) 8-5.