Trojans still hot despite lineup change

Updated: May 18, 2011 11:08PM

HIGHLAND — As lineup changes go, the one involving the Highland girls tennis team is not quite as controversial as the one involving the New York Yankees and Jorge Posada.

But the upcoming results are just as important.

For the Trojans, it’s a matter of doing well in the postseason, even if you had to sacrifice a long running winning streak to do it.

“I’ve been moving the girls around trying to find the right spot for them,” said Highland coach Adam Baez, who admitted that the moves were made with a possible regional matchup with ninth-ranked Munster in mind. “They are still going to be tough, so that’s why we’ve moved people around.”

But for the Trojans, 5-0 winners in their Highland Sectional opener against Calumet Wednesday, there will be no Madrigal Mystery Tour to another position at No. 1 singles.

“We’re all playing different positions for the first time and our doubles partners have to get comfortable with one another,” said Vanessa Madrigal, the only player who was not reshuffled. “We know our flaws and everything we did wrong and we’ll work on that a lot so we won’t mess that up again.”

Those flaws came into play during a season-ending loss to Michigan City on Tuesday, the Trojans’ first regular-season loss to an opponent other than Munster in three years. The biggest concern for Highland? Number 2 doubles, where Baez now has Nikki Goodeve and a slightly banged-up Meredith Garcia (thigh) paired off.

No. 1 doubles has the potential to be a plus with former singles player Aby Madrigal now pairing up with all-state teammate Elizabeth Quinn.

“We have a lot of potential,” Vanessa Madrigal said. “We could go pretty far as long as we keep working hard in practice. I’m not over-confident but I believe we have the talent to get to the regionals and maybe even win. We’ll see on the court.”

Specificaly Thursday, when the Trojans take on Griffith in the sectional final. The Panthers got there thanks to a 4-1 win over West Side in the other semifinal duel.

A win today for the Trojans and it’s a possible matchup with Munster, going for it’s 35th straight sectional title today and if they’re successful, a 27th regional championship next week.

“We’re starting to figure out now that we have to play better,” Baez said.

In the Calumet win, the Trojans indeed played better, winning every set hoping to keep their own sectional title streak alive. A win over Griffith would give Highland their 13th first round tournament title and their eighth straight.

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