Group A
1. Caitlin Johnson-66
2. Jennifer Kucko-65
3. Michele Caporali-61
4. Beth Edwards-54
T5. Julia Hutchinson-48
T5. Lauren Garbade-48
6. Alexis Stanley-45
7. Inna Burroughs-41
T9. Emily Dura-33
T9. Ashleigh Hinds-33
10. Laura Stutzman-31
11. Brittany Williams-27
T12. Annette Hartzell-24
T12. Vidya Santosh-24
13. Arianna Stenta-29

Group B
1. Joanna Pinker-64
2. Jessica Miller-56
3. Angela Chen-54
4. Katie Burns-50
T5. Meghan Caporali-44
T5. Katie Mastroe-44
6. Meghan Pearis-36
7. Morgan Wharton-35
T8. Sharon Hartzell-32
T8. Kailee Karst-32
9. Mackenzie Rounds-27
10. Amy Asher-18

Angela Chen 8, Kailee Karst 2
Caitlin Johnson 9, Inna Burroughs 7
Jennifer Kucko 9, Lauren Garbade 8
Mackenzie Rounds 9, Meghan Pearis 7

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 12 Results
April 9, 2005

Jennifer Kucko 8, Brittany Williams 3
Caitlin Johnson 8, Arianna Stenta 2
Angela Chen 8, Sharon Hartzell 1
Alexis Stanley 8, Inna Burroughs 3
Joanna Pinker 8, Morgan Wharton 1
Lauren Garbade 8, Beth Edwards 3
Katie Burns 8, Kailee Karst 2

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 11 Results
April 2, 2005

Joanna Pinker 8, Sharon Hartzell 2
Beth Edwards 8, Alexis Stanley 5
Katie Burns 8, Meghan Pearis 1
Jessica Miller 8, Meghan Caporali 1
Jennifer Kucko 8, Ashleigh Hinds 1
Kailee Karst 10, Meghan Pearis 9
Michele Caporali won by default over Brittany Williams

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 10 Results
March 19, 2005

Lauren Garbade 8, Ashleigh Hinds 1
Katie Burns 8, Angela Chen 3
Katie Mastroe 8, Meghan Caporali 6
Jennifer Kucko 8, Inna Burroughs 1
Katie Mastroe 8, Kailee Karst 1
Caitlin Johnson won by default over Brittany Williams
Jessica Miller won by default over Amy Asher

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 9 Results
March 12, 2005

Michele Caporali 6, Beth Edwards 5
Meghan Caporali 8, Morgan Wharton 2
Jessica Miller 8, Sharon Hartzell 2
Julia Hutchinson 8, Annette Hartzell 6
Mackenzie Rounds 8, Amy Asher 2
Arianna Stenta 8, Vidya Santosh 3
Joanna Pinker 8, Meghan Pearis 2
Michele Caporali 7, Ashleigh Hinds 5
Laura Stutzman 8, Emily Dura 5

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 8 Results
March 5, 2005

Katie Mastroe 8, Sharon Hartzell 3
Inna Burroughs 8, Annette Hartzell 4
Alexis Stanley 8, Arianna Stenta 1
Caitlin Johnson 8, Julia Hutchinson 3
Joanna Pinker 8, Angela Chen 5

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 7 Results
February 26, 2005

Caitlin Johnson 8, Emily Dura 1
Inna Burroughs 8, Laura Stutzman 7
Jessica Miller 8, Katie Burns 2
Lauren Garbade 8, Alexis Stanley 6
Sharon Hartzell 8, Amy Asher 4
Annette Hartzell 6, Ashleigh Hinds 3
Angela Chen 8, Katie Mastroe 4
Joanna Pinker won by default

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 6 Results
February 19, 2005

Beth Edwards 7, Emily Dura 6
Julia Hutchinson 8, Vidya Santosh 2
Meghan Caporali 8, Amy Asher 2
Katie Burns 8, Morgan Wharton 1
Jessica Miller 8, Mackenzie Rounds 2

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 5 Results
February 12, 2005

Michele Caporali 8, Julia Hutchinson 4
Meghan Caporali 8, Kailee Karst 6
Emily Dura 8, Annette Hartzell 6
Brittany Williams 8, Arianna Stenta 4
Mackenzie Rounds 9, Morgan Wharton 7
Alexis Stanley 7, Vidya Santosh 4
Meghan Pearis 8, Sharon Hartzell 6

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 4 Results
February 5, 2005

Vidya Santosh 6, Asheigh Hinds 3
Brittany Williams 3, Alexis Stanley 4
Michele Caporali 8, Alexis Stanley 4
Meghan Caporali 7, Mackenzie Rounds 7
Emily Dura 8, Julia Hutchinson 5
Morgan Wharton 8, Kailee Karst 6
Jessica Miller 8, Angela Chen 5
Joanna Pinker 8, Katie Mastroe 1

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 3 Results
January 29, 2005

Joanna Pinker 8, Meghan Caporali 3
Morgan Wharton 8, Sharon Hartzell 2
Meghan Pearis 8, Amy Asher 5
Katie Burns 8, Katie Mastroe 1
Beth Edwards 8, Vidya Santosh 1
Angela Chen 8, Mackenzie Rounds 1
Caitlin Johnson won by default

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 2
January 15, 2005

Laura Stutzman 8, Leigh Ann Hiser 4
Caitlin Johnson 9, Beth Edwards 7
Ashleigh Hinds 6, Emily Dura 4
Lauren Garbade 8, Arianna Stenta 3
Jennifer Kucko 8, Alexis Stanley 3
Katie Mastroe 8, Amy Asher 4
Julia Hutchinson 7, Inna Burroughs 5
Jessica Miller 8, Kailee Karst 2

Girls Junior Ladder
Week 1
January 8, 2005

Michelle Caporali 8, Emily Dura 1
Angela Chen 8, Meghan Caporali 3
Beth Edwards 8, Inna Burroughs 1
Lauren Garbade 8, Annette Hartzell 2
Ashleigh Hinds 6, Julia Hutchinson 5
Jennifer Kucko 8, Arianna Stenta 3
Sharon Hartzell 8, Kailee Karst 3
Morgan Wharton 8, Amy Asher 1
Meghan Pearis 8, Katie Mastroe 6
Vidya Santosh 8, Laura Stutzman 4

Lauren has been playing tennis since she was 7 or 8 years old. She has contributed her recent elevation in her play to all of her instuctors.

Favorite Musical Goup: Dave Matthews Band
Favorite Movie: Miss Congeniatlity
Faviorite Touring Pro: Lindsay Davenport
Favorite Shot: Forehand
Goals/Dreams: I would like to play college tennis and have a family of my own.
Favorite Local Club: BTC

Congratulations Lauren!

What is a Split Step

The split step is utilized while transitioning from the baseline to the net and in between volleys. The split step is a movement with your feet that allows you to equalize your body weight on both legs. This is accomplished with a quick little hop-skip step that allows you to land on the court with your weight evenly distributed on the balls of your feet. This equal distribution allows you to easily and efficiently change directions and move to your next shot.

Why Split Step

When approaching the net we need to stop our forward momentum by utilizing the split step. The split step helps you to balance your body to better react to your opponents next shot. It would be wonderful if our opponents would just hit the ball right back to us so we do not have to split step, but unfortunately they aren’t normally so nice. The split step allows us to move left, right, forward or backward. This is an extremely important point. The split step is giving us time to prepare our body for our next move to the ball. This helps us move in a more controlled manner without any diving or lunging after shots. The split step also helps to keep us from just looking at shots going past us without any chance of making a play on the ball.

The split step is also important in giving us time to read what kind of shot is coming to us. What do I mean by read? I mean to register how fast or slow, high or low, far or close the ball is coming at us. To me this is the overriding factor for utilizing the split step. This allows us to start moving to a ball that is to our left early and help make a more controlled and precise volley.

How many times have opponents lobbed you because you were too busy trying to get to the net that you couldn’t even make a play on a mediocre lob. The problem: No split step. The split step would have allowed you to read and react to the lob earlier. It helps us to determine if we should be backing up for an overhead or chasing down the lob.

Where on the Court should I Split Step

There is no definitive area in which to plan your split step. Usually the split step is used around the service line. However, I do not want to perpetuate just running and stopping at the service line. That could cause you to split too late to be effective in moving to your next shot. The where depends on many factors: how hard and how deep your shot is hit, how quick you make the decision to attack the net and how fast you are moving to the net. This means you may find you split step behind the service line, at the service line or in front of the service line all during the same match. I know this ambiguity makes it sound like the split step is going to cause more problems than it will success, but that is just not the case. Do not get discouraged, the split step will take some practice with trial and error testing to get your timing down, but the benefits will soon appear in more controlled and successful volleys.

When Should I Split Step

The accepted philosophy for when to split step is when your opponent starts their swing. This would allow you to read the ball and determine your best course of action. However, lots of people tell me that they know when to split, but they cannot keep their feet from sneaking in some extra steps, which causes them to be ineffective and unprepared at the net. Therefore, I tell people to say I need to split when my shot bounces on my opponents side of the court. That way if my feet try to sneak those extra steps in, I still am stopped in time to read my opponents shot. This should allow me to feel more controlled, prepared and effective while at the net.

Problems Associated with the Split Step

If you did split step and you still are having trouble with your transition game it can usually be traced back to two reasons.

Reason #1: You ended up waiting where you split to hit your next shot, without ever moving to the ball. Remember the split step is not an opportunity to set up camp. You should not pitch a tent where you split step and plan to play the point from there. The split step is just a pause before you move to your next shot.

Reason #2: Not splitting at the right time, usually splitting too late. Yes, we all know that we should split when our opponent is getting prepared to strike the ball. But if any of you are like me sometimes you feel like your brain knows you are supposed to be stopping, but your feet just keep going. I have found that by telling yourself to split step when your shot bounces on your opponents side of the net your feet end up splitting when your opponent starts their swing. Perfect timing!

Reasons for Not Split-Stepping

Many people tell me that the split step keeps them from getting to the net. The split step may cause you to hit an extra shot or possibly two before reaching your volleying comfort zone, but it is just a pause it is not a stopping point. You should always remember it is more important to be ready for the next shot than it is to be really close to the net!

Hopefully, I will see lots of successful split steps out on the court and improved transition games as a result. Good luck and always remember the party is at the NET!!

Each Junior Ladder participant will play 8 matches with a different opponent each week:
January 8, 2005 February 26, 2005
January 15, 2005 March 5, 2005
January 29, 2005 March 12, 2005
February 5, 2005 March 19, 2005
February 12, 2005 April 2, 2005
February 19, 2005 April 9, 2005

Halfway through the Ladder I will determine if there is enough interest to play a tournament. It would still include the top 16 players and would take place April 16 and April 23.

Each match costs $8 per participant. You will play 8 game Pro-Sets (The first to 8 games, winning by 2 games) with No-Ad scoring. You play a 12 point tie-breaker at 8 all. (The first to 7 points, winning by 2 points) If you finish before the hour is up, please continue to play for the extra practice. If you have any questions regarding the scoring format please call me 722-3491.

If you have a conflict that you know of in advance, please contact your opponent as soon as possible. Everyone should remember that we are playing for the match experience. Please try to be accommodating by rescheduling your match if your opponent gives you 5 days or more notice. The player who cannot make the scheduled match time will lose by default. If you absolutely cannot make a match on short notice make every effort to reach your opponent and/or the Tennis Center (722-3491)

You will notice that there are more girls involved this year. Therefore, we have had to make adjustments in scheduling. Matches were originally scheduled to be played at 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm and 7 pm; however we have a scheduling conflict with Senior USTA Mixed Doubles league. Therefore, we have had to extend the ladder an extra 4 weeks to complete all of the matches. No longer will everyone be playing each weekend, so if you have a conflict please let me know and I will do my best to reschedule your match for a different weekend. You are still able to reschedule any matches on your own, but please let the tennis center know so we aren’t wasting court time.

For any questions or concerns throughout the ladder please call me 722-3491.

Thanks
Libby

All of this information and weekly results will be posted on the Tennis Center website www.tennisctr.com