GAINESVILLE — It was supposed to be a subtle change at best for the North Hall girls tennis team.
But Christen Barnes and Sydney Patterson swapping singles positions just before the Region 7-3A tournament could be just the catalyst the Lady Trojans were looking for in their quest for a second straight run to the Class 3A semifinals -- or better.
North Hall opened the 2018 Class 3A playoffs with an impressive 5-0 sweep of Hart County Thursday at the North Hall Courts.
Patterson used a big serve and service return to dominate her opponent at No. 3 singles 6-0, 6-0 while Barnes outlasted the Lady Bulldogs’ Hannah Teasley at No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-2 in a battle of human backboards. Barnes won the final five games in each set to pull off the victory.
North Hall coach Robert Woodworth said the switch was an effort at the region tournament to combat the singles play of Greater Atlanta Christian. It may prove to be a more significant change than even he expected.
“Sydney has a big game and sometimes she can try and outhit another player that has a similar game, which can negate her talents. Christen can pretty much chase down anything,” Woodworth said.
It’s hard to argue with the success. North Hall ((15-3) is undefeated since the change.
“We felt with the switch this would give us a little stronger lineup to be able to combat teams that have big No. 2 players and give us an edge at No. 3 as well,” Woodworth said. “We have to stick with it now in the playoffs but we feel very good about it.”
Barnes, a senior, said she likes the change as well and is anxious to see how far it can take them.
“Our goal is to get back to the Final Four,” she said. “We talk about it as a team. If you don’t talk about goals they can’t really happen. I think this has been a good change for us as a team.”
Patterson and Barnes weren’t the only ones to dominate. The doubles pairs dropped just two games combined.
The No. 1 team of Lauren Davis and Carsen Baumgardner and the No. 2 team of Raquel Kallas and Ella Oxley both made quick work of their opponents in identical 6-0, 6-0 victories.
Anna Montgomery at No. 1 singles held off Meribeth Starrett 7-5, 6-2 to complete the sweep.
“The doubles teams did exactly what we wanted them to do from a strategy standpoint on the court. We were very happy overall with how we responded to a good Hart County team,” Woodworth said.
North Hall will play host to Westminster, a 5-0 winner over Haralson County in the first round, next week in the Sweet 16. The Lady Trojans are looking for their fourth consecutive trip to the Elite 8.
