Beavercreek takes tennis showdown over Springfield

In past years vs. Springfield, Amy Ostrow’s Beavercreek tennis teammates would have quickly joined her in the stands to watch the reserves play.

Ostrow, Creek’s No. 1 singles player, needed less than an hour to dispatch Springfield’s Nicole Pavlatos, 6-1, 6-0, on Tuesday.

But she spent a long time in the stands following her match. Springfield is now no automatic W on anyone’s high school girls tennis schedule. Creek eventually won the Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division match, 4-1.

Creek remains tied with Centerville for first place in the division at 3-0. Springfield is a match back at 2-1. Creek and Springfield are both 14-2 overall with matches left vs. Centerville — Springfield on Sept. 18 and Creek on Sept.25.

“Springfield is a good team,” said Beavercreek coach Charlie Painter. “They’ve gotten better and better each year. I knew this wouldn’t be the walkover it was once and had to make sure the girls knew that too.

“Springfield played us really tough at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles. Luckily Hanna (Duckro) and Anna (Jones) were able to come back at the doubles to take it (3-6, 6-2, 6-4). This was a big win for us as a team because it keeps us undefeated in the league.”

Sadhvi Verkatramani won for Creek at No. 3 singles over Nadisha Nezhad, 6-0, 6-1. Vinaya Gogoine and Karissa Jhangian defeated Kristin Campbell and Farah Chaudray at No. 1 doubles, 6-4, 6-1.

At No. 2 doubles, Durckro/Jones needed two hours to overcome Simra Ranginwala and Nadia Syed.

Springfield’s lone win came at No. 2 singles with Saarah Khan returning almost every shot from Creek’s Laura Harron for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 decision in a three-hour marathon.

Ostrow was aggressive early in her match with Pavlatos getting to the net early for easy winners to go up 4-0. Pavlatos hit some good backhands to take the fifth game. Then Ostrow picked up her intensity with numerous forehand winners.

“I felt like I played pretty well,” said Ostrow, the 2011 GWOC Central Division player of the year. “I didn’t want to give her a chance to get into a rhythm because you never know what will happen.”

Ostrow is now 12-3 for the season. “My biggest improvement this year is my footwork,” she said. “My off-season coach (Carolina Lopez at Kettering Tennis Center/Quail Run) had me doing a lot of running and quickness drills.

“It’s really paid off because my court coverage is so much better and I’m setting up a lot faster to return shots.”

Ostrow has not made a college choice but is considering NCAA Division I Bowling Green and D-III schools Allegheny (Pa.) and the College of Wooster.

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