By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Winning is so much more fun than the alternative.
With a swing and a smile, Bedford North Lawrence’s Becca Epping found her groove, and her teammates followed that flow to a sharp 5-0 victory over North Daviess in the home-courts debut on Thursday afternoon.
The sweep was sweet for the Stars (1-1) who were too tight and too timid in their opener earlier in the week. Loose and relaxed, playing with confidence on familiar ground, they were a totally different team. The results against the Cougars reflected that.
“Much happier, and we played better,” BNL coach Joni Stigall said. “It’s good to see us playing better, with a win.
“It was good to see Becca playing with confidence. The other night, she was not having a good time. And that makes you play lousy. She was on it tonight.”
Epping set the tone with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Reagan Knepp at No.1 singles. Punctuating quality shots with fist pumps, she was in command from the first serve.
“I was not in my head,” Epping said. “I told myself to get out there and hit, don’t think about who I’m playing for, don’t think about why I’m playing. Just hit the ball where the other girl is not. It ended up working.”
The other singles, which will be the tipping point in a lot of matches this season, fell BNL’s way as well. Nadia Anderson fought through a tough first set to top Amaya McBride 7-5, 6-1 at No.2, and Italy Lewis returned to the lineup with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Emma Sargent at No.3.
“Italy has some good moments,” Stigall said. “She’s fighting for that spot back, and she’s proving herself. She’s doing a good job of that.”
Doubles has been BNL’s strength, and both units cruised through two sets. Bella Stigall and Mallory Pride pounded out a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Elaina Morgan and Meah Dalrymple at No.1, while Izzy Alldredge and Kenley Craig stopped Gracelyn Byer and Austyn Miller 6-0, 6-2 at No.2. Their experience, with both teams playing together for another season, showed.
“Doubles, you have to know your person,” Alldredge said. “We’ve gotten so much better at talking, and that’s a big part of doubles. And we’ve become so close, we don’t have to talk all the time. I know where she is, and she knows where I am. “
BNL will return to action in the Paoli Invitational on Saturday.
BNL 5, NORTH DAVIESS 0
Singles
1 Becca Epping d. Reagan Knepp 6-1, 6-2
2 Nadia Anderson d. Amaya McBride 7-5, 6-1
3 Italy Lewis d. Emma Sargent 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1 Bella Stigall and Mallory Pride d. Elaina Morgan and Meah Dalrymple 6-0, 6-2
2 Izzy Alldredge and Kenley Craig d. Gracelyn Byer and Austyn Miller 6-0, 6-2
