Arabella Cosgrove is the lone returnee from Nixa’s COC championship team of a year ago. But she feels the Lady Eagles can repeat as champions.
Nixa was undefeated in the COC last season and won its conference opener this season by downing Willard 6-3 Tuesday.
“Last year’s team was the most decorated team in Nixa history and I think we can contend (for the COC title) this year,” said Cosgrove, who was the Lady Eagles’ No. 1 singles player last year and remains in that spot this year. “Our team is pretty even throughout (our lineup). There’s not a lot of difference between me and our No. 6 player.”
Coach Brock Blansit will normally send out a lineup made of five juniors and one sophomore.
“When I came in as a freshman, it was nice to have the older girls helping me out. Now I feel like I can do that,” Cosgrove said. “But the girls don’t need a whole lot of mentoring.”
Cosgrove fell 8-2 at No. 1 singles Tuesday and she and Kylie Burk lost 8-4 at No. 1 doubles.
“Playing No. 1 in our area is extremely difficult,” Nixa coach Brock Blansit said. “You play against a lot of good players. I know every night Arabella is going to compete. Win or lose, she will give 100 percent. She loves to play and continues to get better.”
Cosgrove’s game is a bit unique in that her backhand is stronger than her forehand.
“My backhand has always been more consistent for me,” she said. “I like having both hands on the racquet for more stability. I feel like I can control the racquet better. It took a lot of work to get my forehand better. But I don’t think I would be good with a two-handed forehand. That would take a while to get used to.”
Cosgrove will team with Abby Fulnecky beginning Thursday. Fulnecky transferred to Nixa from Springfield Central last year.
“We’re really good friends,” Cosgrove said. “We took doubles lessons over the summer and we communicate well on the court.”
Samantha Fulnecky and Kaylee Chronister were winners for Nixa against Willard in both singles and doubles.
Nixa 6, Willard 3
Singles
No. 1 — Jungeun Go (W) def Arabella Cosgrove (N) 8-2; No. 2 — Ana Chunn def (N) Ellie Sorgenfrei (N) 8-6; No. 3 — Samantha Fulnecky (N) def Alysssa Flynn (W) 8-3; No. 4 — Kylie Burk (N) def Kaytlen Ibarra (W) 8-3; No. 5 — Kaylee Chronister (N) def Evelyn Sly (W) 8-6; No. 6 — Jocelyn Cosgrove (N) def Madeline Sams (W) 8-1
Doubles
No. 1 — Go/Chunn def (W) Cosgrove/Burk (N) 8-4; No. 2 — Sorgenfrei/Fulnecky (N) def Flynn/Ibarra (W) 8-1; No. 3 — Chronister/Ellingsworth (N) def Sly/Sams (W) 8-1
