NTL GIRLS' TENNIS: YOUTHFUL TOWANDA LOOKS TOWARDS REBUILDING 2024 CAMPAIGN (2024-08-19)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
There will be several new faces in different roles for the Towanda girls’ tennis team in 2024, but one role that won’t change will be that of Lainey Alderfer, who’ll stay as first singles.

“I’m excited because it’s my senior year, so I’m going to put my all into it this year,” she said. “I’ve been working on staying in shape, controlling my backhands and forehands.”

Last year was Lainey’s first year at first singles, and she’ll be looking to improve upon her 4-10 record from a year ago.

“I learned a lot on placement and speed,” she remarked.

Her sister, Nadia Alderfer, will be at second singles alongside her after playing in doubles last year.

“I’m really excited for the season, it’s my first year doing singles all year,” remarked Nadia. “It’s kind of stressful because you’re on your own the whole time, and you don’t have a partner at all.”

Nadia had four different partners last year but still found success, going 9-4 as a doubles player.

“I’m focusing on keeping it in the singles lines, and try to have no unforced errors,” she said.

It’s a family affair for the Alderfer sisters, who play with each other in the off-season, along with their brother, and boys’ player Bayley Poll. Towanda has a tough non-league schedule, though, so Lainey will have her work cut out for her again.

“We have Montgomery, we have Montoursville, we have Williamsport, we have South Williamsport,” said Snyder. “We have a lot of teams down in that southern league that we play a lot.”

With low numbers Snyder feels this will be a rebuilding year, as they will likely be forfeiting second singles with just six players.

“It leaves you down one match every single time,” she said. “It’s too bad we don’t have a lot of participation.”

Still, the girls have come close to winning the NTL title the past few seasons, going 4-2 in the league last year right behind champions CV (5-1).

“We’re hoping to make it as well as we can in the NTLs, maybe get NTL champions,” Lainey said. “We also lost a lot of seniors, so our team’s rebuilding again this year.”

The sisters plan on working with the other players to get them up to shape.

“We just want them to always have a positive mindset,” Nadia said. “So then you always strive to be better for your next match.”

For Snyder, it comes down to one thing - limiting unforced errors.

“Keep the ball in the court,” she said. “That’s the goal, make that opponent hit one more point. That seems to be the thing with teams in the NTL, third singles and then the doubles is who has the least amount of unforced errors. You’ve got to keep the ball in the blue, that’s going to be our big concentration this year.”

ROSTER

Lainey Alderfer

Nadia Alderfer

Emma Ackley

Jaden Conklin

Maddy Blanchard

Jennalee Coe

SCHEDULE

Aug. 20 at Montrose, 11 a.m.

Aug. 22 at Montgomery 3 p.m.

Aug. 24 at Montgomery Queens of the Court, 10 a.m.

Aug. 27 vs Wellsboro, 4 p.m.

Aug. 28 at Muncy 4 p.m.

Aug. 29 vs NPL, 4 p.m.

Sep. 3 at CV, 4 p.m.

Sep. 5 vs Galeton, 4 p.m.

Sep. 9 vs Bucktail 11 a.m.

Sep. 11 at Wellsboro, 4 p.m.

Sep. 14 vs Montgomery, 11 a.m.

Sep. 16 at NPL, 4 p.m.

Sep. 18 vs CV, 4 p.m.

Sep. 24 at Galeton, 4 p.m.

Sep. 25 at South Williamsport, 4 p.m.

Sep. 26 vs NPL, 4 p.m.

Print Friendly Version