Girls tennis: Brunswick sweeps Cloverleaf

WESTFIELD TWP. — The Brunswick girls tennis team is close to becoming whole again, and the Blue Devils likely will be better off for the perseverance they've shown in recent weeks, not to mention the improvement some players have made while playing out of position. Kevin Naugle's team swept Cloverleaf 5-0 Wednesday in a non-league match despite not having first singles player Sofia Droz, who is expected back from an illness next week, for the seventh straight outing. Brunswick was off to an 8-1 start when 2023 honorable mention All-Gazette pick Droz was sidelined, but the Blue Devils have managed to go 3-4 without the junior and are currently 11-5 on the season following their win over the Colts (5-9). "Sofia handled that (first singles) role with ease," said senior and normal second singles player Kate Muniak, who improved to 2-5 at the No. 1 spot with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Brenna Carpenter. "Me stepping into that spot was a bit of a surprise, but it's given me a chance to play higher. When I go back to second singles, I'll be better off for it." The Blue Devils also got singles wins from No. 2 Addison Burns, who downed Mallory Bohan 6-4, 6-1, and rapidly improving freshman No. 3 Julianna Ulm, who upended Marina Berbel 6-0, 6-2. "It's given us a chance to play out of our normal positions," said the left-handed Muniak, who also has been dealing with an injury to her upper leg after getting off to a very solid start at No. 2 singles. "Our third singles player was originally at second doubles. Now she's fighting for a permanent spot there. I'm happy for her." Brunswick also swept the doubles competition against the Colts, with Abby Ivory and Ava Daddario downing Alyssa Bergman and Mady Sweitzer 6-3, 6-0 and the No. 2 pairing of Alexis Markowski and Kate Staunton beating Stella Elkevizth and Desi Bohner 6-4, 6-3 in the closest match of the day. "We're both very evenly matched up," Daddario said of the Blue Devils' first doubles team. "When I'm in front I can trust (Ivory) in the back, and when I'm in the back I can trust her in the front." "We have good communication and that helps," Ivory added. "Ava is a really good player. It's nice to rely on her when I'm having a bad day. We get along pretty well and we have really good chemistry. Ava's really funny. It makes it way more fun when you're playing with somebody who's in a good mood." Though they lost, that's seemingly always the case with Cloverleaf's Elkevizth and Bohner, who are constantly smiling and friendly to their opponents. "It's part of being a good sport," Bohner said. "The more positive you are, the more fun the game will be. You won't come off the court down and upset, so we always have a positive mindset." The same is true with Brunswick's Markowski and Staunton, though the latter's occasional very loud "out" calls have resulted in some good-natured ribbing from her teammates. It's gotten to the point where Naugle sometimes will inform opposing coaches and players she isn't trying to show them up and isn't even aware she's doing it. "Originally, I was told my 'outs' weren't loud enough," Staunton said with a laugh. "I started calling them louder and it's turned into a pure reaction thing now. Sometimes it comes across as gloating, but that's definitely not my intention. It's just pure reaction. I don't mean to do it." Heading into a non-league match with Lakewood today, the Blue Devils could make some noise in the Greater Cleveland Conference Tournament, especially with Droz expected to be back in action next week. "Sofia is very good," Daddario said. "Everyone else is good, too, but it's big shoes to fill. We've done really well filling them, but it's definitely a big gap. It will be nice to have her back." Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on X. Brunswick 5, Cloverleaf 0 Singles: Kate Muniak (B) d. Brenna Carpenter, 6-2, 6-2; Addison Burns (B) d. Mallory Bohan, 6-4, 6-1; Julianna Ulm (B) d. Marina Berbel, 6-0, 6-2. Doubles: Abby Ivory/Ava Daddario (B) d. Alyssa Bergman/Mady Sweitzer, 6-3, 6-0; Alexis Markowski/Kate Staunton (B) d. Stella Elkevizth/Desi Bohner, 6-4, 6-3. Records: Brunswick (11-5), Cloverleaf (5-9).