Ranger racket girls trample Toads, 13-5
By Misty Volaski

In their third game of the season, Nordhoff's girls' varsity tennis team dominated the courts against cross-town rival Thacher with a comvincing 13-5 win.

Emily Johnston led the Lady Rangers in the No. 1 singles spot Wednesday. Against Thacher's top singles player, Ellen Adams, Johnston had little trouble pulling off a 6-3 win. Johnston performed similarly against Thacher's Virginia Dawson and Cara Bonewitz, besting them 6-1 and 6-0, respectively.

Ranger Nathalie Selleslags also picked up three wins, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0. Teammate Perry Johnson had a slightly more difficult day, winning her first match, 6-4, but losing 2-6 and 0-6 in the next two.

Thacher did a little better in their doubles matches; No. 1 Toad duo Dana Gal and Sarah Echardt pulled off a win against Nordhoff's top doubles squad, Rachel Ward and Nicole Pettler, 6-3. Ward and Pettler got revenge on the Toads in their second and third matches, where they pounded Sabrina Lee and Stephanie Rauner, 6-3, and Brooke Wharton and Sophia Ovyang, 6-1.

Rangers Danica Day and Tara Saylor proved themselves over Thacher by sweeping their three sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, while NHS's Katie Downey and Blair Johnston struggled, losing two of three (5-7, 2-6, 6-4).
Nordhoff coach Rachel Cooks applauded the effort of her squad, saying that the team has several leaders this year.

We have four or five seniors on our team," Cook said. " We should have a good season."

The loss of five top senior last year - combined with the addition of a new coach and six new players - has definitely made this year one of rebuilding for Thacher.

"Our team is a work in progress," said Toad coach Stacy Margolin Potter. She also noted the addition of Selleslags and Saylor to Nordhoff's team has given the Rangers a distinct advantage over Thacher. Both girls played in the World Team Tennis League and earned scholarships to the Weil Tennis Academy in years past.
"Nathalie's always very consistent," Potter said. "I've coached her for years. She's already improved since the summer."

Nordhoff is currently 2-1, while Thacher is 1-2. Thacher plays Oaks Christian, a Frontier League powerhouse, next Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Thacher. Nordhoff plays at Cate at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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