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Greenville
junior Sophia Navas-Davis, returns a backhand
shot during action Tuesday against Troy.
Navas-Davis won her first
singles match and the Lady Wave topped Troy 3-2 in the GWOC
North
contest. CNO Photo by George Starks
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Greenville
upends Troy in GWOC North match
Lady Wave on top in division
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- When Greenville tennis coach, Jim Koontz sends his team to
the tennis courts; he sends two juniors and a freshman out for singles
action at the varsity level.
With the second and third singles having posted two set wins over the
visiting Troy Trojans, all Greenville needed was one more victory and
the match belonged to the Wave.
The first doubles team had already lost in straight sets and the second
doubles team was in a dog fight. The first singles player, Sophia
Navas-Davis, was in a fight as well with her opponent.
Having lost the opening set, (4-6), the Wave junior struggled through
the mid-way point of the second set, down as much as 40-Love.
Then, as if by magic, a light was turned on and something had changed.
With things looking grim for the junior, all of a sudden, she was
smiling uncontrollably.
Navas-Davis took the second set (6—2) and then the third(6-1) helping
to lead the Wave to a 3-2 victory over Troy Tuesday.
“It was my sister Raquel,” said Navas-Davis. “She plays third singles
and had won her match (6-2, 6-1) and she knew I was getting frustrated
because I couldn’t get my shots to fall. I looked over at her and she
was making faces at me. Really stupid faces and it calmed me down
enough that I was able to re-gain my focus and play my game. She made
me smile and that was enough to change things around for me. All it
takes is a little comedy to set me straight.”
When stress sets in, the sister’s work together in a way most can’t
imagine.
“We both have tendencies to start slow and get frustrated,” said
Navas-Davis. “We know what it takes to ease each other and a little
comedy does it for us. Once I was able to calm down, I got my game
going and was able to focus better. When I re-gained control of myself,
I started to put the pressure on her and I could hear her yelling at
herself and I remembered that from last year when I beat her. When she
gets frustrated, she starts making mistakes then she comes down on
herself. All I have to do is keep applying the pressure on her and the
rest took care of itself.”
For coach Koontz, it’s all about the team and he was pleased with the
outcome. Koontz knows the North title goes through Troy.
Now, the Wave has beat Troy two years in a row.
“This was the first big match of the season and I told the girls if we
could beat Troy tonight that we would have a chance to win this thing,”
said Koontz. “It seems like Troy wins the conference every year so
right now we are standing pretty good.”
On September 18, the wave till travel to Vandalia-Butler for what could
be the conference title.
“We still have to play the Aviators there,” Koontz said. “That will be
a big league match and could decide the conference.”
With two juniors and a freshman at the varsity level, Koontz likes what
he sees.
“The future looks bright for Lady Wave tennis,” said Koontz. “I really
like our chances this year and next. It says a lot knowing what these
kids did tonight. It shows a lot of guts and determination. We lost our
two doubles matches but no one gave up tonight. This bunch of kids has
a lot going for them and I’m proud of them.”
Now 7-1 on the year, with the only loss of the season coming to
Miamisburg, the Wave will play at Trotwood on Tuesday.
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