Griffin, Spence doubly pleased with results
Naperville Central's first doubles team of Meghan Griffin and Taylor Spence came in to this high school tennis season well prepared.
Griffin and Spence, who are undefeated in the DuPage Valley Conference, with their final test scheduled for Tuesday against West Chicago, decided after last season that they wanted to be partners this year, and they worked together in the off-season to lay the groundwork for success.
On Monday, Griffin and Spence won their match 6-1, 6-0 over Glenbard North to lead the Redhawks (12-5, 4-2) to a 7-0 shutout over the visiting Panthers.
Over the summer, the successful duo received instruction on the doubles game from former Naperville North state qualifier at doubles Matt Walters.
"We practiced almost every day and Matt worked with us at least once a week," said Griffin. "He taught us various strategies and how to maximize our strengths and minimize our weaknesses."
As a team, their strength is playing aggressively and getting up to the net.
While both have improved their net games dramatically, they are at their best when Spence serves and Griffin volleys at the net.
"My favorite game is when I'm serving and she puts the ball away, right away," said Spence. "Meghan is so great at the net. I try to get to the net too, but my real strength is my groundstrokes.."
The Redhawks' first doubles team expects to be seeded No. 1 at this weekend's DVC tournament, which will be hosted by Wheaton North, but held at West Aurora because of construction work at the Falcons' courts.
"We've beaten everybody else out there," Spence said. "But we just have to go out and do it again. Our sectional, though, will be really tough."
Naperville North is expected to go into the tournament in first place and Naperville Cental coach Don Bonet believes the Huskies have a good shot at the DVC title.
"We dug ourselves a hole early, but we're still looking for success in the tournament," Bonet said. "It will be wide open at a number of positions, especially third doubles. The first seed at those two positions, whoever it is, will have a tough time winning. We're going in unseeded at second and third doubles I think we can win at both positions."
Glenbard North, which graduated eight seniors from last year's team, has yet to win in conference.
"Our girls have lost 7-0 numerous times but they still come back to practice with positive attitudes," said Panthers coach Claudia Richards. "We knew it would be a challenge this year because of how young we are. We're trying to work through the losses and make sure the girls are having a good experience and that they're building a lifelong love for tennis."