Wolf Pack rolls past Falcons
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1 of 2By Shelby Mack / The Bakersfield Californian
Ridgeview's Nadja Scholl hits the ball during her match against Independence's Abby Darstein at Ridgeview High School on Thursday afternoon.
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2 of 2By Shelby Mack / The Bakersfield Californian
Independence's Paige Darstein hits the ball over the net during a doubles match against Ridgeview on Thursday afternoon.
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BY STEPHEN LYNCH Special to The Californian
Laura Rice's voice was hoarse after Thursday's tennis match between Independence and Ridgeview.
But not because the Wolf Pack coach did much yelling while the two teams played.
Instead she calmly watched as Ridgeview downed the visiting Falcons 12-0 in non-league action.
Seven different Ridgeview players were both singles and doubles winners including Nadja Scholl, the defending South Yosemite League singles champion.
She bested Abby Darstein 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 singles and then teamed with Mary Guenette for a doubles win over Darstein and her sister, Paige Darstein, by the same score.
Independence, playing for the first time this season, pushed only one match beyond two sets.
Play had to be stopped several times because of rain, but that didn't seem to phase Ridgeview as it racked its fifth straight win to start the year.
"I always know that they are going to come out here and give it all they have and hopefully that will be enough, and today it was," Rice said. "We had some close matches.
"The final score may not look that way, but every match was competitive. I'm happy with the way our girls played. Hopefully, it will help get us ready for league."
Despite returning only four players from a squad that lost to Porterville in the Central Section Division III semifinals last season, the Wolf Pack lineup featured eight seniors against Independence on Thursday.
"They've been through school for the last four years together and been on this team for the last three years together," Rice said "Some were on varsity. Some were on JV, but they're great leaders. They're great leaders at school, away from the tennis court and they're great leaders out here. I consider myself quite lucky to have these young ladies."
Scholl, who broke her left wrist just prior to the start of the 2011 season, was Ridgeview's No. 4 player when she stormed through the SYL Tournament's singles draw at the end of last year, knocking off a trio of various team's No. 1 players.
She demonstrated that same form Thursday.
"It's all about rallying," Scholl said. "I'm more of a rallyer. Some people like to ace. I rally a lot. It's all about getting other people to make a mistake and not me."
While the match was an opportunity for Scholl and her teammates to continue to hone their skills before the start of SYL play, Independence finally got to test itself beyond practice.
"I have a lot of brand-new players and young players so it was a good opportunity to get them out on the court, start building a little confidence and to really see what they can do," Independence coach Debby Miller said.
For Ridgeview the day was about something else.
"It's always exciting just playing tennis, but it's nice to win, too," Scholl said.
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