Her will was tested. Her patience was tested. If ever Kelly Trapp (20-7) was going to forego her approach and game plan, it would have been in the Division 1 tennis quarter final.
Trapp trailed one set to nothing to Bloomfield Hills Lahser’s Mollie Fox. From a psyche standpoint point it was more than just a set, the number three seed marched flawlessly to a 6-1 win. With no signs of a chink in her opponent’s armor the unseeded Trapp appeared set up for a decisive and quick dismissal.
“I just wanted to win two games instead of one in that second set. Make it a little closer. She was on fire in that first set and could do no wrong,” Trapp said.
The Lowell senior continued with what has earned her the title of the best girls tennis player to come out of Lowell. Trapp kept getting one more ball back over the net for Fox to return.
“Kelly was not only returning the balls, but began to return them deep into Fox’s court. With the deep returns she was then able to come to the net,” said Lowell girls tennis coach Bonnie Wall.
Trapp’s relentless approach earned her a 6-3 win in set two and with it began to wear Fox down.
“I’m mostly a defensive player. I make my opponents earn their points. I don’t go for broke on every shot. I wait for my chance,” Trapp explains.
After battling back to win the second set, Trapp seized her quarter final moment as she followed it up with a 6-2 win in the decisive third set.
“Kelly is the best player I’ve seen at getting to shots that many would not and then being able to do something with it,” Wall said. “She moves and anticipates extremely well..”
The Lowell coach pointed to a couple fantastic gets against Fox. “I think that can frustrate opponents and take the wind out of their sails,” Wall explained.
Trapp advanced to the quarter final with wins against Gilbralter-Carlson’s Robin Bruhley (6-0, 6-1); and Bloomfield Hills Marian’s sixth seeded Bailey Paradise (6-2, 6-4).
Trapp’s win against Fox earned her a semi final match-up against second seeded Nancy Benda from Birmingham Seaholm.
Benda appeared unable to combat the steady, disciplined approach of Trapp. “Mentally, Benda appeared to have a meltdown out their. She was taking time to wipe off and playing other tennis games,” Wall said.
Her approach did not throw Trapp of her game and she summarily dismissed Benda 6-0, 6-1 to reach the final against Portage Northern’s number one seed Talia Johnson.
The Lowell senior unable to break Johnson lost in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.
“It was hot and Johnson is a very good payer,” Trapp said. “My play in this tournament is by far the best tennis I”ve played. My match in the quarter final is by far the best match I’ve ever played.”
Trapp’s reward for being the first Lowell tennis player to advance to the finals of the MHSAA state tournament was a scholarship offer to play tennis at Grand Valley State University. It will work nicely with her academic scholarship in pursuit of a premed degree.
Her will was tested. Her patience was tested. If ever Kelly Trapp was going to forego her approach and game plan, it would have been in the Division 1 tennis quarter final.
Trapp trailed one set to nothing to Bloomfield Hills Lahser’s Mollie Fox. From a psyche standpoint point it was more than just a set, the number three seed marched flawlessly to a 6-1 win. With no signs of a chink in her opponent’s armor the unseeded Trapp appeared set up for a decisive and quick dismissal.
“I just wanted to win two games instead of one in that second set. Make it a little closer. She was on fire in that first set and could do no wrong,” Trapp said.
The Lowell senior continued with what has earned her the title of the best girls tennis player to come out of Lowell. Trapp kept getting one more ball back over the net for Fox to return.
“Kelly was not only returning the balls, but began to return them deep into Fox’s court. With the deep returns she was then able to come to the net,” said Lowell girls tennis coach Bonnie Wall.
Trapp’s relentless approach earned her a 6-3 win in set two and with it began to wear Fox down.
“I’m mostly a defensive player. I make my opponents earn their points. I don’t go for broke on every shot. I wait for my chance,” Trapp explains.
After battling back to win the second set, Trapp seized her quarter final moment as she followed it up with a 6-2 win in the decisive third set.
“Kelly is the best player I’ve seen at getting to shots that many would not and then being able to do something with it,” Wall said. “She moves and anticipates extremely well..”
The Lowell coach pointed to a couple fantastic gets against Fox. “I think that can frustrate opponents and take the wind out of their sails,” Wall explained.
Trapp advanced to the quarter final with wins against Gilbralter-Carlson’s Robin Bruhley (6-0, 6-1); and Bloomfield Hills Marian’s sixth seeded Bailey Paradise (6-2, 6-4).
Trapp’s win against Fox earned her a semi final match-up against second seeded Nancy Benda from Birmingham Seaholm.
Benda appeared unable to combat the steady, disciplined approach of Trapp. “Mentally, Benda appeared to have a meltdown out their. She was taking time to wipe off and playing other tennis games,” Wall said.
Her approach did not throw Trapp of her game and she summarily dismissed Benda 6-0, 6-1 to reach the final against Portage Northern’s number one seed Talia Johnson.
The Lowell senior unable to break Johnson lost in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.
“It was hot and Johnson is a very good payer,” Trapp said. “My play in this tournament is by far the best tennis I”ve played. My match in the quarter final is by far the best match I’ve ever played.”
Trapp’s reward for being the first Lowell tennis player to advance to the finals of the MHSAA state tournament was a scholarship offer to play tennis at Grand Valley State University. It will work nicely with her academic scholarship in pursuit of a premed degree.
