Lynsey Quinn and Chloe Clemente became teammates on the softball team. This fall, the two have become partners on the tennis court.     

                Playing second doubles on the Upper Perkiomen girls tennis team, the two have learned to settle their differences more like sisters, according to Clemente.

                On Tuesday, Quinn and Clemente started strong in their match against Phoenixville's Julia Teter and Susannah Shier.

                Quinn and Clemente led early in the first set before Teter and Shier captured the final two games to take a 6-4 win. The Phantom duo won the second set, 6-1, to post the victory. 

"We came out pretty strong," Clemente said. "But then we started making too many mistakes. We've got some things to work on."

                Quinn and Clemente, two Upper Perkiomen juniors playing a new sport, continue to improve with every match, according to head coach John Williamson.

                The coach said he paired the two because they played softball together and are both athletic.  "They cover the court pretty well," Williamson said.

                Overall, the competition has been fierce for the Indians (0-4), who fell, 6-1, to Phoenixville in the Pioneer Athletic Conference match.

                Emily Moll and Carly Bernhart captured Upper Perkiomen's only victory at third doubles. After dropping the first set, the sophomores rallied to take the next two sets against Phoenixville seniors Dani Hedegard and Julie Andrews.

                Following their 7-6 victory in the second set – including an 8-6 tie-breaker win – Moll and Bernhart posted a 6-4 win in the third set.  "Emily and Carly have been playing solidly," Williamson said.

                Quinn said she and Clemente went out for the tennis team because they wanted to try something new. According to Clemente, Williamson has been after them for two years to try the sport.  "He's a great coach," Clemente said.

                According to Clemente, the toughest transition from softball to tennis is regulating how hard to hit the ball.

                Both girls say Williamson uses softball analogies to help them relate to tennis.  Some of the body positioning is similar in both sports, according to Clemente. She said the position to make a throw is close to hitting a ground shot. She also compared a backhanded swing to a left-handed slap swing.

                Though the duo has not won a match, Clemente said she isn't fretting.  "My method is to have fun playing the game," she said. "This is different. I'm having fun with the other girls."

                According to Clemente, continued hard work will eventually lead to a victory for the Indians.  "I know we will improve," she said.

                In singles play, the Phantoms captured all three matches.

                Mackenzie Bowes, Phoenixville's No. 1 player, defeated Jess Crilley 6-1, 6-0. Robin Burgess beat freshman Jill Kachmar 6-3, 6-2. Megan McNabb outlasted senior Aly Licopoli 6-1, 6-2.

                The losing has not worn down the team, according to Licopoli. She said the more experienced players give the younger ones tips on how to play "and show them how to behave on the court."

                At No. 4 doubles, the Upper Perkiomen duo of Amanda Hanshew and Abby Clifford lost 6-2, 6-2 to Elyse Langan and Keri Marini.