Father McGivney Tennis Dominates via Doubles Sweep
Father McGivney Griffins converted singles leads into decisive victories by sweeping all doubles matches against Civic Memorial and Marquette Catholic.
Key points
- Father McGivney defeated Civic Memorial 8-1 on Sept. 21, winning five singles matches and sweeping all three doubles contests.
- The Griffins beat Marquette Catholic 7-2 on Sept. 14, taking control by winning all three doubles matches despite losing two singles points.
- Kaitlyn Terhaar and Avalinn Olson were pivotal, leading their teams to decisive victories in both the singles and doubles segments of the matches.
The red clay surface of the Father McGivney tennis court absorbed the thud of a tennis ball, a sharp crack echoing under the September sun. On Sept. 21, the Griffins dismantled Civic Memorial, taking five of six singles matches before the doubles teams turned the momentum into a landslide. The match ended 8-1, a result that reflected not just skill, but the overwhelming physical presence of the team on the court.
Kaitlyn Terhaar set the tone early, her arm moving in a smooth arc as she dispatched Reagan Bloodworth 8-4 at No. 1 singles. Beside her, Jaclyn Goebel stood at No. 5, her strokes precise and unyielding against Caitlin Rice, who failed to return a single game point. The only blemish on the singles slate came at No. 3, where Civic Memorial’s Kena Breyer fought hard to edge out Olson, but the damage was already done. The Griffins had built a lead that doubles would only widen.
Doubles teams seal the victory
With the singles points locked in, the focus shifted to the net. Terhaar and Olson paired up at No. 1, their coordination seamless as they moved laterally to cover the wide angles of the court. They dismantled the opposing pair, Bloodworth and Tinley Crisp, in an 8-1 romp. The other two Father McGivney teams mirrored that dominance, their volleys and groundstrokes landing with consistent force. By the time the final point was struck, the sweep was complete, the clay marked with the scuff of their shoes.
Marquette Catholic test proves depth
A week earlier, on Sept. 14, the Griffins faced a stiffer challenge from Marquette Catholic, but the outcome followed a similar script. Terhaar, playing at No. 1 singles, controlled the pace against Sarah Moehn, winning 6-2, 6-3. The depth of the roster shone through as Eleanor Willenborg, Jaclyn Goebel, and Elizabeth King added straight-set victories at Nos. 4-6. Marquette Catholic’s Izzy Hough and Mia Lopez fought back, taking singles points against Carruthers and Olson, but the singles lead was not enough to save the match.
The doubles matches against Marquette Catholic were where the game was truly decided. At No. 1, Olson and Terhaar faced their toughest test, rallying from a second-set deficit to beat Hough and Lopez 6-2, 4-6, 10-4. The tension hung in the air, every point felt heavier. Willenborg and Carruthers held their own at No. 2, winning 6-3, 6-2, while Shea Guinn and Jenna Goebbels closed out the sweep at No. 3, their final point landing cleanly in the corner. The 7-2 final score underscored a team that thrives when the pressure mounts.
Consistency defines the season
The Edwardsville Intelligencer notes that the Griffins’ ability to convert singles leads into decisive doubles victories is a hallmark of their play. Whether it was the 8-1 blowout against Civic Memorial or the hard-fought 7-2 win over Marquette Catholic, the pattern remained the same. The team’s cohesion on the court, the way they moved as a single unit, turned potential close matches into comfortable wins. For Father McGivney, the season is not just about winning points, but about controlling the rhythm of the game, point by point, match by match.
