The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
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South Gibson Star-Times GSHS Spring Sports Preview Tuesday, March 28, 2023 B-7 By Andy Heuring Gibson Southern's girls tennis team returns five of their seven starters to a squad that finished runner-up in the Pocket Athletic Conference in a 3-2 match, and rolled through the Princeton sectional with two 5 -0 matches. Tennis coach Matt Grabbe thinks this year's Lady Titans are at least as good as any team he has been involved with the last 16 years. "We have had some really good teams. This is as good or better," said Grabbe. "We have put in more work in the off season than we possibly have ever done over the winter. Since early November we have gone to the Evansville Tennis Center twice a week with 10 to 12 girls. When I was legally able to be there we have been there working on stuff. They are really dedicated. I'm in a really good situation to have the dedication we have right now," said Grabbe of the off season. Gibson Southern lost their number two singles and a doubles player. Grabbe said because of their depth and the versatility of several girls, it allows them to change their line-up from match to match. "There will be a couple different lineups we will throw out there. There are seven girls at the top who want to win. They don't care about where they play, they want to win. We are going to find out the best combination and they are all in on it. There is no stacking of line-ups that we don't do. We have seven girls who are all competitive. For us to run one line-up the entire year is probably not the best. We don't have the horses to be like a Castle and go with whatever line-up we choose, but we have the depth to be versatile." Grabbe has several seniors who have played since they were in middle school. Lilly Booth played number one doubles last year and varsity for multiple years. She also helped with the boys team last year. "She can coach, too," said Grabbe. "She can run an entire practice. She is that kind of person." "She has a willingness to win. She may not be the best technically sound player, but she will beat you by sheer determination. Her strength is the mental side of tennis. She is a solid all-around player," added Grabbe. Gracie Jones returns to the number one singles spot where she has played the last two years. "Not a whole lot I can add to her game. She is just good. She has gotten stronger this year. She is hitting with a lot more pace," said Grabbe. "She hits a heavy ball with very heavy topspin. She can hit shots where we want her to hit. If we give her spots to hit against a player she can hit them," said Grabbe. "We are lucky to have her. She's very athletic and strong now, definitely developed in the three years she has played. Number one is a tough spot to play in. You have to get beaten up for a couple of years and figure it out. She has been beaten up, but she was still above .500 every year. But that will pay dividends for her," said Grabbe. Senior Sydney Purcell has played for the Titans since she was in the sixth grade. Last year she played number three singles. Grabbe said she wasn't really a three singles player, but because of their depth at singles, that is where she fell in the line-up. "She was one of the strongest three players in southwest Indiana." "She is a gamer. Not a whole lot affects her. She steps out there and doesn't care about the situation, and she just goes after it. She hits with a ton of pace." "We have been working on a couple of shots because they were inconsistent, and she is a lot better-rounded player this year," said Grabbe. "These seniors came in as freshmen during COVID so they missed a whole year of development. It think if they had that extra year they would be amazing." The Titans also have a strong group of juniors. Emily Block played about two-thirds of last season at number two doubles. "I don't know if she will play doubles or singles. She can play either. She is just like a brick wall. I hate playing her. She will make you hit a thousand balls and make you make mistakes. She isn't very tall, probably not many opponents will be intimidated by her, but she can make you look dumb. Not flashy, she just gets the job done. Super tough worker and she wins," said Grabbe. Mallory Maurer will be in her first year on the varsity. "She is one of the more athletic players we have. She doesn't have a ton of experience, but she's very athletic and long. She is one who will get significantly better, just from match experience," said Grabbe. Lily Schmitt didn't pick up a racquet until she decided to play tennis as freshman. Last year as a sophomore she finished 20 -2 at number two doubles." If there is a brick wall she is it, maybe even more so than Emily Bullock. She gets everything back, not flashy, but she can volley and she has great hands. She might be one of the most athletic on our team," said Grabbe. "Gabby Smitha will be one of the seven at this point. She had some varsity experience last year. I know she played some two doubles. Last year she was inconsistent. She's a good athlete who transitioned into it. A very strong server," said Grabbe. "When she is at the net and I'm on the other side, I'm intimidated because she hits it hard. She is a player who will get better every match, too. She is intimidating with her strength. She can rip balls," said Grabbe. Grabbe said those girls are currently the top seven and there are 25 girls on the team. Grabbe thinks the PAC will again come down to the Titans, who had won the conference 12 years in a row prior to losing to Washington, who was state- ranked last year. It was a 3-2 match with two of the matches going to three sets. "It will be a very close match again." Gibson Southern rolled through the sectional last year, winning both their rounds 5 -0. However, Evansville North has been moved into the sectional with Gibson Southern. Last year the Titans won 3-2 over North, so they could make the sectional more interesting. "No Gibson County team has ever won a (tennis) team regional title, but we are working on that this year. We have that type of ability," said Grabbe. Last year the Titans fell to Evansville Memorial in the regional in a 3-2 match that went to three sets. This year he hopes they can get over the hump and make it a 3-2 win instead of a 3- 2 loss in the regional. Gibson Southern Girls Tennis Titan girls tennis The Gibson Southern girls tennis team members are front row: (l to r) Shaleigh Martin, Emily Stevenson, Becca Smith, Tali Maurer, Alyssa Welte, Abby Naas and Syd- ney Purcell; middle row: Gabby Smitha, Presley Dunkel, Lillie Booth, Maddie Boes, Emilee Bullock, Lilly Schmitt, Tricia Long, Charity Baylor, Molly Foster and Vanessa Foster; back row: Assistant Josh Nurrenbern, Kelsey Spindler, Hadassah Hutchinson, Loren Carl, Sidney Ridens, Gracia Jones, Lindsey Garbers, Emily Holzmeyer, Mallo- ry Maurer, Assistant Kyle DeBord and Head Coach Matt Grabbe. Charity Baylor Becca Smith Lillie Booth Kelsey Spindler Gracia Jones Sydney Purcell Lady Titans have high hopes of another successful season