When VBVA graduate, and regular AAA player Maddy McCrum sent a message to Evie, offering to play round two of the Vicbeach 2019/20 tour, the talented 15yo jumped at the opportunity. A decision that would see her become the second La Terra in consecutive years to reach an early season final… with the same partner.
Older sister Lucia – soon to be back from a long winter sickness – partnered with Maddy in the early rounds last season, making consecutive AA finals, before moving up to AAA. Evie, was hoping Maddy could help her do the same.
From the outset the pair were made to work their way through a tough pool. Their first match, against Plapp/Baron-Toop, started with a tight first set, Evie and Maddy scraping through 22-20. A dominant display early in the second set saw the girls come through in straight sets.
Regular training in the Melbourne wind set up a massive advantage against their second opponents Williams/Alcock. As the breeze picked up, so did the quality of the VBVA girls’ game; Maddy and Evie comfortable winners 18-8, 18-11.
To prove the strength of the pool, eventual grand final opponents Bradbury/Stone, were the same opponents who would push their way into top spot in their group, and leave Maddy and Evie to face a tough crossover. That said, the girls made Bradbury/Stone work for it, taking the first set 18-16, before just missing out on a straight set victory in losing 19-21. A back and forth third lost at the death 12-15.
Finishing second in their pool, Maddy and Evie missed straight entry into the semi-finals, instead being pushed into a quarter final – which they won in three – before a tight semi against Thijssen/Huynh, winning 19-17, 18-5.
Unfortunately, that extra game took a little too much out of the girls, losing their rematch against Bradbury/Stone in straight sets.
A loss which, at this moment, may seem tough to take, could just be the result that kickstarts a massive future for one particular girl, who only recently turned 15!
Well done girls!
