Grovedale girls relinquish top spot, but spirits still high

Grovedale Section 1 Girls: Jess Lee, Matilda Sutherland, Ebony Paull, Georgia Carr and Yvette Harmon. Absent: Caitlin Hamling. (supplied)

Section 1 Girls in the Tennis Geelong Junior competition is heating up with ladder changes between first and second placed Geelong Lawn and Grovedale.

And with only one point between fourth and fifth placed Drysdale and Highton, the fight for the final place in the finals is well and truly up for grabs.

Despite Grovedale’s 4-2 loss to Drysdale this week, and relinquishing top spot, the girls are not disheartened and believe their team spirit will help them in the long run. From the girls:

Ebony: We have a lot of fun. No-one gets angry or upset when someone misses a shot or loses a match but more laugh it off. They’re all very supportive of each other both on and off the court and she thinks when all that happens it shows in their results. When you’re enjoying your tennis you play better both as an individual and as a team.

Matilda: The family-like bond that we have in our Section 1 team correlates with the success that we have had this season. Obviously you have your good days and your bad days as a tennis player but when you are in a team of bright, bubbly and friendly people, there is no reason to not smile and laugh.

I love warming up with my team, we are always chatting about the week, laughing at some of the not so good shots we hit and we always show appreciation and support for each other. I believe that the fun and enjoyment that we all share on the court is the reason we are having such a wonderful season.

Jess: I have been in a tennis team with a few of the same girls for many seasons of pennant now and have formed a strong bond with everyone. I love the friendships that I have built and the happy spirit everyone brings to the court no matter how miserable the Saturday morning, we always manage to have a good laugh.

We have come up against many strong teams and love a good competition to keep us striving for our best. Win or loss we always walk off the court with a smile.

Georgia: I have always loved tennis, not because of the wins, but because of the amazing people I get to play with each week – my tennis mates are some of my dearest friends. I’m sure that our mutual respect and love for each other is what makes us successful as a team.

Caitlin: I’m the newcomer to the team and found it so friendly and fun to be a part of. With six in the team we seem to find ourselves playing different combinations most weeks and every time we seem to click. All girls are willing to try different sides of the court and tactics and probably keeps the opposition guessing. It’s been an epic season so far and looking forward to going all the way.