By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Rocky Balboa would love Nadia Anderson’s punching-bag game.
Remember the classic Rocky 3, when the hero dared Clubber Lang to throw his best shots, took the punishment, and let the opponent wear out from his own overuse of full force? That approach worked in real life, as Anderson absorbed the best from the other side of the net and emerged triumphant in the end.
Anderson won a three-set marathon match at No.3 singles as Bedford North Lawrence clipped Jennings County 3-2 on Thursday. The Stars swept the doubles, and Anderson won the deciding point as BNL (4-1) recorded an impressive victory over a possible sectional and Hoosier Hills Conference tournament opponent.
Facing a hard-hitting foe with powerful strokes, Anderson’s approach was simple. Just get it back, over and over again. In a game of patience, she will win that battle. And that backboard style worked perfectly as she recorded a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Mia Silvey.
She also played with a chip on her shoulder. After suffering a devastating knee injury last season, she was unsure of her own ability. But then she sensed others doubting her, and it has fueled her inner drive. She has not lost in seven matches this season.
“I definitely make them lose patience,” Anderson said. “This year I wasn’t sure I could do that, because of my knee, but I wanted to prove everyone wrong. They think I’m slow because of my knee, but I’m not slow. I can get it. I’m not that slow.”
Speed was not the main factor. Persistence was. The harder Silvey hit it, the more it came back from the other side. The clash lasted over 2:45 before Anderson won the battle of attrition.
“That was her game plan,” BNL coach Joni Stigall said. “The other girl is a pretty tough hitter, so just be the backboard. That’s her winning game. And she got to some balls that shocked me.
“She wants that winning streak, she does not want that to stop. She was out for it, there was not anything that was going to stop her. She was all over the place.”
On the doubles courts, BNL posted another three-set win. Jessie Faubion and Emma Conover recovered from second-set slippage to edge Ari Maldonado and Sydney Kegley 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 at No.2. Kenley Craig and Izzy Alldredge had no issues at No.1 as they swept aside Trina Collins and Maddy McIntosh 6-0, 6-0.
“It’s a huge win,” Stigall said. “Jennings is a strong team. We will see them in the sectional, we might see them in the conference. So it’s a team we see often. It’s big.”
At the top of the singles, JC’s Tatum Brown bounced Becca Epping 6-2, 6-2 at No.1, while Kaydence Lowman stopped Ava McKinney 6-4, 6-2 at No.2.
The Stars will host Bloomfield on Monday.
BNL 3, JENNINGS COUNTY 2
Singles
1 Tatum Brown, JC d. Becca Epping 6-2, 6-2
2 Kaydence Lowman, JC d. Ava McKinney 6-4, 6-2
3 Nadia Anderson, BNL d. Mia Silvey 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Doubles
1 Kenley Craig and Izzy Alldredge, BNL d. Trina Collins and Maddy McIntosh 6-0, 6-0
2 Jessie Faubion and Emma Conover, BNL d. Ari Maldonado and Sydney Kegley 6-3, 1-6, 6-0
