Clevenger salvages final match, but Lady Zs fall to Culver Academy

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Rylee Clevenger

CULVER — Fighting for every point in the final athletic event of her career, Rochester tennis player Rylee Clevenger won her match at No. 3 singles in a marathon tiebreaker against host Culver Academy at the Gable Tennis Center Wednesday.

Unfortunately for Clevenger, it was the final athletic event in her career because Culver Academy won the other four matches and prevailed 4-1.

In search of their seventh straight sectional title, Culver Academy will face Knox, who received a bye, in the semifinals today.

In the other quarterfinal, Plymouth shut out North Judson 5-0 and will face Triton in the semifinals.

Due to the rain, all the matches Wednesday were held at a set of five indoor courts next to the outdoor courts at Culver Academy.

After Clevenger and Barrett Brady split the first two sets of their match, it was determined that a 10-point super tiebreak would determine the match since the result of the team competition was no longer in doubt.

Brady won five straight points at one stretch and had two match points at 9-7.

Brady then netted a forehand. Then she went wide left on an overhead. Then Clevenger placed a lob over Brady’s head and in front of the baseline that Brady could not run down. In a span of three points, it had gone from match point for Brady to match point for Clevenger.

And when Brady’s service return went long, Clevenger had the 4-6, 6-4, (11-9) win.

“I think just staying calm and trying to be consistent and not trying to hit winners and do anything outside of the box,” Clevenger said when asked how she won. “Just staying calm and showing nothing mentally.”

In the other singles matches, Ella McCarter lost to Meera Desai 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, and Audrey Bolinger lost to Winnie Ma 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles in matches that took less than 45 minutes.

Emma Murphy and Ellie Straeter lost to Kenzie Miller and Tenille Wogoman 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles, and senior Sophie McCall lost her final prep match at No. 2 doubles with partner Abbi St. Martin 6-0, 6-2 to Emma Rudnicki and Ella Turgut.

Rochester finished the season 12-5. Clevenger’s individual record was 16-1.

Clevenger led the first set 4-1 before Brady, a native of Westlake, Texas, came back to win five straight games and the set. She said she was able to stay calm, even after the first set.

She then grinded out a win in the second set, winning the set on her serve.

“I felt this next-point mentality,” Clevenger said. “I didn’t really have any negative thoughts or was really frustrated with myself. I felt like tonight I played really freely.”

Clevenger complimented Brady on her serve and groundstrokes, and she also said Brady approached the net more than her typical opponents, and she often responded with an overhead winner whenever Clevenger tried to lob.

But the lob that gave her a match point might have been the biggest point of the match.

“I think sometimes when I was lobbing throughout the whole match, they were too lofty and too high,” Clevenger said. “She had enough time to get to them. And with really good placement and with a stronger shot, I felt like it was able to get the place it needed to without her being able to reach the shot.”

A first-team All-TRC basketball player, Clevenger will play that sport next year at Manchester University. But she foresees herself playing tennis again at some point.

“I guess you never know what happens,” Clevenger said. “But I don’t see myself playing competitively again, but I love playing tennis. It’s a joy for me.”

Results: Culver Academy 4, Rochester 1

Singles

Meera Desai (CGA) def. Ella McCarter (RHS), 6-0, 6-0

Winnie Ma (CGA) def. Audrey Bolinger (RHS), 6-0, 6-1

Rylee Clevenger (RHS) def. Barrett Brady (CGA), 4-6, 6-4, (11-9)

Doubles

Kenzie Miller-Tenille Wogoman (CGA) def. Emma Murphy-Ellie Straeter (RHS), 6-1, 6-1

Emma Rudnicki-Ella Turgut (CGA) def. Sophie McCall-Abbi St. Martin (RHS), 6-0, 6-2