HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS - River Bluff starts quest for 2nd state title in 3 years

Post-season begins Wednesday for tennis, volleyball

Posted 10/22/19

The River Bluff girls’ tennis team has been a region powerhouse in recent years, winning the region title the last 3 seasons.

The Lady Gators got the “4-peat” last week in finishing with a …

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HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS - River Bluff starts quest for 2nd state title in 3 years

Post-season begins Wednesday for tennis, volleyball

Posted

The River Bluff girls’ tennis team has been a region powerhouse in recent years, winning the region title the last 3 seasons.

The Lady Gators got the “4-peat” last week in finishing with a 16-2 overall record, 8-0 in the region. 

Under fifth-year coach Brian Lim, the team boasts an impressive record of 87-15 over those 5 seasons. The winning ways has created a tennis tradition at River Bluff that the players have bought into, Lim said.

“Four of our 6 seniors this year have been on the team my entire River Bluff career and they have been the heart of the team,” he said. “There have been new girls this year who have had to step up and learn the culture and expectations of the team.”

Unlike team sports where success can hinge on how players work together on the field of play, tennis is ultimately an individual sport. However, Lim encourages the attitude that they must win as a team. 

“Tennis is definitely an individual sport but I always reiterate to my team that no matter what number court you play, they all count the same,” said Lim, referring to the wins and losses that determine which school wins an overall match.

River Bluff added a new member to the team this year who made an immediate impact in Jesse Hollins. She moved into the area and became the team’s number 1 player, going undefeated in singles play.

“Liyin Zhu was the Region Player of the Year last year and has been a solid number 2 for us this season,” Lim said. “Number 3 Claire Floyd was our top player when we won the state championship in 2017. Overall, those 3 set the tone for the rest of the team.”

With 6 seniors and 1 5-year starter out this season with a torn ACL, the Lady Gators have relied on underclassmen to contribute this year.

“I have been very impressed with 8th grader Patty Silva, she’s shown great improvement in her doubles role with senior Riley Mitchell,” Lim says.

The team built their season from the ground up this year, Lim said, pointing as far back as the preseason to credit their success.

“Our matches in the preseason tournament in Florence and in the Bishop England Invitational provided us with good tests against teams that we wouldn’t normally play, even in the playoffs,” he said. “Our 2 losses were close ones against Christ Church and Bishop England, 2 teams who are favored to with state titles in their respective classifications.”

With the playoffs starting Wednesday against archrival Lexington, the Lady Gators are well-positioned with home court matches throughout the playoffs.

“The biggest motivator to the team is that nothing is ever a given, so we must bring it each round,” Lim says. “This team is different than our 2017 state championship team, so it’s important to them that they leave a great legacy of their own. That has been our theme for the year, and we hope to make another run.”

S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE FALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

TENNIS

(Wednesday’s Matches)

Lexington at River Bluff 6 pm

Dutch Fork at Ashley Ridge 6 pm

Summerville at Chapin 6 pm

(Monday’s Matches)

Batesburg-Leesville at Christ Church 6 pm 

Loris/Waccamaw winner at Gilbert 6 pm

Brookland-Cayce at Hilton Head Island 6 pm

 

VOLLEYBALL

(Wednesday’s Matches) 

Batesburg-Leesville at Andrew Jackson  6 pm 

Greer Middle College at Gray Collegiate 6 pm

Lake Marion at Gilbert 6 pm

Pelion at Battery Creek 6 pm 

(Thursday’s Matches)

Dutch Fork at Lexington 6 pm

White Knoll at Ashley Ridge 6 pm

West Ashley at River Bluff 6 pm 

Airport at Myrtle Beach 6 pm

Lim, river bluff, tennis

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