The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

COACH Marion Bain is more than pleased with what she has seen so far from the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s three-member team at the International Tennis Federation’s COTECC Under-12 competition in Santo Domingo.

Yesterday, the team, consisting of Brianna Houlgrave, Tatyana Madu and Kaylah Fox, pulled off a 3-0 victory over St Lucia after they jumped into action following a day off on the first day of competition on Sunday.

Playing in the #2 spot, Briana Houlgrave won 6-1, 6-0. The win came over St Lucia’s Jaelayn Henry. Playing in the #1 spot Tatyana Madu got a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Amia Jean- Marie of St Lucia. Madu then teamed up with Fox to win the doubles 6-3, 6-3 over St Lucia.

“Overall it is a great start for Team Bahamas,” Bain said. “The girls only had one opportunity to practice before we left Nassau as Kaylah Fox is in Florida, Tatyana Madu in Freeport and Brianna Houlgrave in Nassau.

“Today was the first day of play for us as we had a day off yesterday. Singles play has been a success so has doubles but we are still experimenting based on the team we are playing with in the doubles lineup.”

Bain said she expects the team to step on the court each day to give their best effort with the pride and honour of representing the Bahamas.

Houlgrave is an 11-year-old student of Windsor Academy. Fox, 11, attends St Andrew’s in Boca Raton, Florida, and Madu, 12, is enrolled at Bishop Michael Eldon High School in Grand Bahama.

“This is also a developmental tournament for U12 in the COTECC region,” Bain said. “Brianna Houlgrave played number two singles today. She was able to step on the court and dominate from the first game. “Tatyana played number one singles, her opponent was no match for her as she dominated the match. Kayla and Tatyana played doubles. They pulled the win off but it was kind of a roller coaster ride, not much chemistry so tomorrow it should be a new doubles team. Just have to find the right fit for the team we are playing.”

The BLTA congratulates Madu and Houlgrave on their first international wins representing Team Bahamas at the prestigious U12 ITF/Cotecc U12 Team Competition in Santo Domingo.

“The girls played very confidently and strongly,” the BLTA wrote. “This is a very good showing from Team Bahamas.”