To say the Cape Fear High School 2023 women’s tennis season got off to a rocky start goes beyond understatement.
For openers, this year is Cape Fear’s turn to have its courts refurbished by Cumberland County Schools, which meant moving home matches to the courts at Arnette Park.
Brooke Bieniek, who teamed with Anna Piland to win the 2021 state 3-A doubles title and, together with Piland, led the Colts to consecutive 3-A dual team state titles in 2021 and 2022,graduated. Also departing was the coach who was the architect of those state titles, Chris Lucas.
Piland, expected to be the leader of this year's team, fully recovered from last year's foot problem but has been sidelined by a new stress injury she anticipates recovering from by playoff time. Top that off with a 9-0 loss to 4-A power Wilmington New Hanover in the first match of the season and it would appear the Colts had plenty of reason to be concerned.
But to say they’ve bounced back is yet another case of extreme understatement. Since the defeat to New Hanover, Cape Fear has reeled off nine consecutive wins without losing one singles or doubles match.
The latest N.C. High School Tennis Coaches Association state 3-A poll shows the Colts No. 2 in the state behind top-ranked Wilson Fike.
Lee Osbourne, the new head tennis coach for the Colts, said the season has been somewhat like the ancient curse credited to the Chinese that says, “May you live in interesting times.”
When it became clear that Piland was sidelined, Osbourne said the team rallied around her.
“She’s been out there, trying to help at practice,” he said.
As for piecing a lineup together without the two players who were a bedrock for the team the last couple of years, Osbourne said it’s been difficult, citing the challenges of putting together doubles teams and handling team chemistry.
But while the elder Bieniek is gone, her younger sister Shea has moved in at No. 1 singles to provide some of the spark her older sister used to deliver.
“Shea has really stepped up and helped us quite a bit,” Osbourne said. “Everybody has stepped up.”
And as for that 9-0 blowout against New Hanover, Osbourne said there was some thought put in to having the Wildcats on the schedule the past couple of years.
“We thought they would be one of the favorites in 4-A,” he said. “That kind of catapulted our run (to the state title) last year. I think it showed the girls we can still do it again.
“I always thought the better people you play, the better you get. You’re ready for tough matches and that’s what we got last year.”,
Shea Bieniek has also accepted the challenge of playing No. 1 for the Colts and said players on the team are focused on keeping their cool and competing within the team to motivate each other.
She also gives credit to her sister Brooke.
“She’s still giving me tips and tricks on how she did it,” Shea said. “She’s definitely been my biggest cheerleader. When I came onto the team I didn’t know what to expect.
“She kind of helped my game plan. I know how to be the player I am today.”
Andi Brinker, who is No. 2 singles for Cape Fear, said she drew motivation from that early defeat against New Hanover.
“I got destroyed,” she said. “That motivated me to work harder so that doesn’t happen again.”
She agreed that the loss of Piland was a source of stress for everyone, but she feels the whole team has adapted well to being without her.
“I know it made us stronger as a team knowing we can rise to a challenge,” she said.
The good news for everyone is they expect word soon on Piland’s status and whether or not she’ll be able to return for the final run to the postseason.
Whatever happens, Osbourne thinks the team will be able to adjust.
“It’s a very light-hearted team,” he said. “Not a lot of intense individuals. They’re more likely to be laughing and singing on the bus than back there worried about their match. They just kind of roll with it.”
While they may be fun-loving, Brinker said they’re also focused.
“We can’t get sidetracked off little things,” she said. “You’ve got to stay focused on what you want. Keep working hard. Don’t let that effort drop at any point.”
Follow Earl Vaughan Jr. on Twitter: @EarlVaughanJr.
