By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – As a tandem, Izzy Alldredge and Kenley Craig are like television lawyers. When in session on the court, they never lose.
Bedford North Lawrence’s doubles law firm won another case during the home opener on Tuesday afternoon. After losing the opening argument, they battled back with a great close for a three-set victory, extending their winning streak to 23 consecutive matches. Bloomington South still won the overall judgment with a 3-2 victory over the Stars.
Alldredge and Craig – which has a barrister’s ring to it – posted their expected win at No.1 doubles, while Nadia Anderson continued her impressive comeback from major knee surgery a year ago with a tough victory at No.3 singles. The Panthers won the other courts, dropping only 9 total games in the process.
In doubles, Alldredge and Craig posted a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Hannah Vandeventer and Carla Demeter. The first set got their attention, because the streak is a motivational tool. During the final two sets, they raised their game level with sharp net poaching and instinctive communication that bordered on telepathic.
“We already know what the other is doing,” Craig said. “If we can hear them, we know where they are. We lost on our own errors. We knew we were better than that.“
Coaches stress talking a lot in just about every team sport. Alldredge and Craig have played so many matches together, dating back to 2022, that their movement and shot selection is almost automatic. It also creates an aura of calmness when they struggle.
“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be when we lost the set,” said Alldredge, who has logged the winning streak on her phone notes app, in case she needs to be reminded. “I’m trying not to get worked up. Joni wants us to talk a little more. But it’s hard because I know what she’s doing.”
Anderson had her opponent talking to herself with her backboard approach – get it back, get it back, make the other player flinch and make the mistake. Anderson, who gauged her comeback level at 90 percent now, dropped the first two games before rallying to card a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3 in the tiebreaker) victory over Carlota Campas.
“I finally got going,” said Anderson, who is now 3-0 this season. “It’s a mental thing. I’m hesitant at times. It’s absolutely mental, but I’m getting there. That’s exciting. I’m slowly going into it.”
The Panthers prevailed at the top two singles. Maddie Santner stopped Becca Epping 6-3, 6-2 at No.1, while Brooke Liao rolled past Jessie Faubion 6-0, 6-1 at No.2.
At No.2 doubles, South’s Quinn Reynolds and Eherly Clarke topped Meryl Klein and Emma Conover 6-2, 6-1.
BNL will visit Linton on Thursday.
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 3, BNL 2
Singles
1 Maddie Santner, South d. Becca Epping 6-3, 6-2
2 Brooke Liao, South d. Jessie Faubion 6-0, 6-1
3 Nadia Anderson, BNL d. Carlota Campas 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
Doubles
1 Izzy Alldredge and Kenley Craig, BNL d. Hannah Vandeventer and Carla Demeter 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
2 Quinn Reynolds and Eherly Clarke, South d. Meryl Klein and Emma Conover 6-2, 6-1
