Guerin Catholic’s Anna Kolb won the No. 3 singles match for the Golden Eagles, clinching their 3-2 dual-meet victory over Brebeuf Jesuit in a 1-vs.-2 match. (Richie Hall)
Anna Kolb clinches match with No. 3 singles victory
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Guerin Catholic girls tennis team didn’t get much time to enjoy being ranked No. 1 before that honor was put on the line.
Three days after moving up to the top spot of the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association rankings, the Golden Eagles had to face off against their rival Brebeuf Jesuit, who just happens to be ranked No. 2. The teams met Thursday at the Guerin Catholic courts for a dual meet.
It was a meet worthy of a 1-vs.-2 matchup, and the Golden Eagles prevailed 3-2. The clincher was Anna Kolb, who won the No. 3 singles match in a third-set tiebreak. The score was 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (4).
“I’m just so excited for these girls right now,” said GC coach Becky Ragsdale. The Golden Eagles ascended to No. 1 after winning the Carmel Invitational on Saturday, April 18. The Braves finished second at the invitational.
The first three matches were decided quickly. Guerin Catholic easily won both doubles matches, with No. 1 Katie Kolb and Abby Quigley taking their match 6-3, 6-1 and No. 2 Grace Docktor and Maddy Hood cruising to a 6-0, 6-2 victory. Brebeuf’s Chloe Wendowski won the No. 1 singles match 6-1, 6-0.
The Nos. 2 and 3 singles matches went the distance. The Braves’ Kitty Noga got past GC’s Cece Phillips 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. Phillips fought back from a 5-2 third-set deficit to 5-5 before Noga won the final two games.
Anna Kolb, a senior, won the first set over Brebeuf freshman Cyra Abbasi 6-3 before Abbasi took the second set 6-1. That led to a marathon third set, with both players battling tough. They were grinding through long points, rarely making errors and being consistent and using different tactics.
“It was definitely different from what I normally do,” said Kolb. “She is super consistent and it’s hard to play that. She’s really fast and gets everything back.”
Kolb matched that tactic, then began playing her own game: “Being aggressive.”
Kolb led 3-0 in the third set before Abbasi came back to lead 4-3. The match eventually reached the tiebreak, where the first player to reach seven points would be the winner.
The score was tied at 3-3 before Kolb won three straight points. Kolb hit a powerful forehand, followed that with a service winner, then another big forehand gave her three match points at 6-3. Abbasi saved one before Kolb took the second match point and clinched the win.
“I was actually thinking, ‘be consistent until she gives me that high ball, and then when I have the chance, I’ll take it,” said Kolb.
Thursday’s dual meet was the first of three consecutive days of home competition for the Golden Eagles, all against ranked teams. Guerin Catholic welcomes No. 10-ranked South Bend St. Joseph this afternoon, then hosts No. 11-ranked Westfield on Saturday morning.
