Providence tennis upsets Benet

For the first time in many years, players on the Providence lady Celtics tennis team won a match from perennial powerhouse Benet Academy. The win came when seniors Maggie and Kelly Ruane won at first doubles, 6-1, 6-3. The Ruane twins won the first set easily, but in the second set, the seniors doubles team from Benet won the first three games. Down 3-0, the Ruane twins won six straight games to win the match, bringing the crowd of cheering fans to their feet, expressing their appreciation for the historical moment. This win was followed by talented sophomore Hannah Davis winning at first singles, 6-4, 6-2. In this match, it was a long battle in the first set, but Davis gained the momentum in the second set to win the match fairly easily, adding a second win to a historical day for Providence's girls tennis team.

Unfortunately, the team fell short of getting the third, and wining point, to gain a major upset. With a large contingent of cheering Celtics' fans providing support, head coach Ben Thompson was thrilled with the effort and will keep his team working hard to win that third and deciding point, against the really tough teams. But his team made history and for that, he was quite happy.

"Getting a win from Benet is big accomplishment," said Thompson, who has coached Providence for the past five years. "Getting two wins is incredible! I am very proud of the effort made to get those victories. Those girls have worked very hard in the off-season and their improvement showed today."
 
The team's overall record falls to 12-5 and 2-3 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. The Ruane twins upped their record to 16-1. The team will play next at the Sandburg Invitational on Saturday.