GIRLS TENNIS
August bounces back with a vengeance
By John Dixon

Photo courtesy of Sam August Sam August

Team Captain Samantha August is the Cardinal Newman Ladies' tennis team's first rung player, but she is not resting on her laurels.

She worked all summer on consistency and trying to keep the ball in play by reducing unforced errors. She also spent time refining her serve so she could begin the season in top form.

August had to bow out of her first match of the season against Thomas Sumter due to a bad case of heat exhaustion, which sidelined her for three full days. Things only got worse from there. When August returned to the court to practice, she was unable to continue due to breathing difficulties and was diagnosed with acute bronchitis causing her to miss the team's next three matches.

Her sister, Tori had to pick up the first rung matches and fill in as the team captain. Fortunately, Tori is an excellent player in her own right and performed admirably, winning every match during her sister's absence. Sam August was appreciative but refused to stay on the sidelines any longer than absolutely necessary. She took the court for the first time since her illness on Thursday, September 6 against Melina Sprankle of Augusta Christian winning both sets 6- 0 and 6- 2. She then joined her sister Tori in doubles competition to soundly defeat Sprankle and Freeman 8- 4.

It appears that Sam August has bounced back with a vengeance and is making up for lost time. Of course the rest of the team did extremely well too, defeating Augusta Christian 8- 1.

Sam August acknowledges the team is currently off to a good start, but she cautions that, "Hammond and Heathwood both have very strong teams this year, and to be able to beat them we will have to bring our A games and play as well as we possibly can. They are both very deep teams, and we will have to play our best to pull out the win." August expects the team will have to play their best every match if they want another championship because, "There's no telling how our team will match up against Hammond and Heathwood. We can only hope for the best!"

With August back in fighting form, Tori there to back her up, and Evan Black and Andrea Martin inspired by their strong showings while playing several rungs higher than usual these past few weeks, things are looking good. Anything could happen. Ladies' tennis at Cardinal Newman could indeed be exciting this season.