A week-and-a-half lay-off can cool a team, but apparently not the white-hot Merrill girls tennis team.
The Jays improved to 11-2 on the season and 1-0 in the Valley with Thursday’s 7-0 straight-set drubbing of D.C. Everest.
“We waited a long time and I was concerned how rusty they’d be,” MHS coach Jennifer Heitz said. “I kind of anticipated some third sets, but everybody came out very focused. We have put a lot of effort into becoming a determined team.
“I joked with them, ‘If you just go out there and win in two sets you can get off the courts for the JV kids,’ and that’s what they did.”
The 11-2 record maps out uncharted territory.
“I’m kind of a little amazed with that strong of a start,” Heitz said. “The good thing is the girls are realizing they are a really good team and that’s made them even more determined to finish this month strong.”
From top to bottom in singles, the wins came from Olivia Heitz (6-3, 6-2), Liz Smith (6-2, 6-4), Hannah Ollhoff (6-3, 6-2) and Kristen Verdoorn (6-3, 6-2). In doubles the victories came from Ellen Donner/Marissa Wilde (7-6 [10-5], 6-1), Dani Teske/ Aly Brandvold (6-1, 6-2) and Sarah Altman/Marissa Bartz (6-3, 6-1).