One of my thoughts throughout the course of the season was that we as a team were going to need to pull a close match. These types of matches if you come out on the winning side can help your team become closer and mentally tougher.
Gustavus, provided us with this opportunity. Our match was early in the morning and so it was imperative that we get off to a good start. Gustavus, historically, has been a team that always has strong doubles teams. After our outing against Azusa, I was feeling good about our doubles. Unfortunately, we got off to a very slow start.
Wag and Rud got down and early break and struggled to get back in the pro-set. Gustavus was also serving extremely well which didn't help. We ended up losing 8-5. At 2, we got down an early break as well and struggled to get the break back. We lost 8-6 at 2. Thankfully, Halp and Brandon, played great at 3 doubles and secured us a win. At this point, going into singles, I was confident that we would turn it up.
As the singles rolled out Gustavus would not give up to our singles lineup. We dropped the first sets at 2, 3, 5, and 6 singles. As I stated earlier, sometimes you need to be pushed to the brink, but, as a coach, this is not good for the heart. Rud and Nick jumped on there guys and secured the first sets. Halp was in a battle against a very tricky player. Rafe couldn't find his rhythm at 3 singles, and Halp and Will, who have been very strong for us, were also struggling.
At one point in the match it looked very bleak. Mentally, you cannot let yourself go to that place of doom, easier said than done, but, champions fight to the very last point. Rud and Nick closed out their matches, but Rafe lost in straight set. The match was tied at 3all. We would need to get 2 out of the 3 remaining matches which at the time looked to be a very difficult challenge. Halp was struggling with his opponent at 2 and Wag was down a set and a break in the second. Will found himself down 5-4 in the 2nd set. Our comeback came with Will. Will survived 6 matches down 5-4 in the 2nd to get the ball rolling. It was an unbelievable comeback for him. Will displayed a mental toughness in that match that I will never forget.
Will amazing won the 2nd and Wag also fought back and won the 2nd set. Halpern found his rhythm in the 2nd set won 6-4. We had the momentum but we all know how quickly it can go back to the other team. Halpern gutted a 7-5 win in the 3rd and Wags and Will pulled through!
We need this type of match as team and more importantly, the time we put into our fitness at practice clearly paid off. I have to give Gustavus a ton of credit and we learned as a team, that you can never, never underestimate your opponent!
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