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Sports Lyman, Gerst excel on tennis court
Lyman, Gerst excel on tennis court
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 ON CLOUD 9: Kara Gerst readies to serve Tuesday. - Observer photos/BRUCE MASON Kara Gerst. Josi Lyman. In rhythm on the court. In rhythm off it. And they’re looking to add yet another accomplishment to their high school careers. It’s called perfection. On tennis courts — from cement to clay to grass to whatever surface they decided to stroll on together This No. 1 doubles tandem continued their success Tuesday versus Pendleton, walking off as 6-4, 6-4 match winners, although, if you listen to these splendid senior athletes, it was not their best performance. There was Lyman, throwing her hands in the air. There was Gerst, getting frustrated, too. Balls hit nets. More balls hit nets. That ultra competitiveness was getting the best of them. That inner drive was saying they could do better. And there they were, unsatisfied. “We want to play to the best of our abilities,” Gerst said.“We weren’t putting the ball away like we should’ve.” They did just enough, though. Here was Lyman, stabbing a line drive in mid-air. In. Point. Here was a volley, back and forth, back and forth, and there was Gerst, slamming the ball down the middle and right in between two defenders. In. Point. They slapped hands. The bundled-up crowd clapped theirs. And in the end, there was Gerst and Lyman, winning yet again. Perfect through six? Perfect through six. So what’s the key to success for these future Lewis-Clark State roommates? Is it serving? Sure. Is it playing against stronger boys in practice? You bet. Is it the player at the net — whether it be Gerst or Lyman — cutting off a line drive in mid-flight, something known as “poaching?” Yeah, that, too.
 TAKE COVER! Josi Lyman slams a serve across the nets. - Observer photos/BRUCE MASON Chemistry. Team work. Friendship. “We tell each other what the other person is doing wrong and fix it,” Lyman said. “We calm each other down.” They talk frequently between plays. Sometimes it’s Josi giving a pep talk. Sometimes it’s Kara giving a needed pointer. Whatever it is, it works. And it translates into winning games, and ultimately, winning matches. Winning? They’re used to that. In volleyball. In tennis. Heck, probably in checkers, chess or any other game they play, too. Three match losses last year. Zero this year. Perfect through six. Who’s next? “We want to be undefeated all season,” Gerst said. “That’s our goal.” |
