It was like a clash of thunder and calm seas. Back and forth, up and down the court, sophomore Piper Charney and freshman Jessica Bernales ran perfectly in sync. As Charney set up for a mighty shot, Bernales seemed to instinctively bend down just enough for the shot to clear her head, poised to take the point moments later with a simple, controlled tap at the net. Together, they were unstoppable.
During the Sunday finale of the ITA Kickoff, Charney and Bernales gave the No. 8 Michigan women’s tennis team three of its four points against UC Santa Barbara, with dynamic performances in both their No. 1 doubles and No. 2 and No. 6 singles matches. Having lost their doubles match against Yale just 24 hours prior, the pair snapped back, showcasing their skill and resilience for the Wolverines’ first win of the afternoon.
“We were definitely just on our heels yesterday,” Charney said. “Today, we knew that even if we went down, we were just gonna do it swinging.”
Charney’s formidable serve laid the groundwork for their dominant performance. For the first shot of the afternoon, she sent the ball rapidly toward the back corner of the court, giving the duo initial control of the match. As the rally wore on, there lying in wait was Bernales, who capitalized on the Gauchos’ small mistake and forced an awkward lob in response to her drop shot that hit the net — giving the duo the first point of the game.
Throughout the match, this rhythm played again and again, with Charney’s strong serve and forceful shots harmonizing with Bernales’ calm and calculated responses, keeping control over the game. Their back and forth of styles kept their opponents on their toes. UCSB was simply outpaced and outmatched.
“We just play well together, and our strengths complement each other,” Bernales said. “… She can set me up at the net, and I can also set her up at the net, and we just compliment each other’s game styles.”
The pair played side by side, not only in their doubles but in their singles match as well. And even with their unique playing styles, their matches seemed to mirror each other, with similar timing, an identical scoreline and equally frustrated opponents to boot.
Charney gave it her all, playing with strength, agility, and a fiery passion for every point. This performance carried through to her singles match, where she commanded the first set with a barrage of aces and aggressive groundstrokes bringing the score to 5-0. But in the sixth game the Gauchos’ Marie Weissheim found some footing, using her serve as an opportunity to make the score 5-1. But the Charney that walked back for the final game of the set had a look of unwavering determination, her reinvigorated energy and grit leading to her win in the set, 6-1.
In contrast, Bernales played calm, consistent and calculated. Her skillset was incredibly well-rounded, the talent in her forehand being mimicked in her backhand and volleys, and her ability to place shots with precision allowed her to prey on her opponent’s mistakes. Each game in her first set seemed contentious, and yet she nearly always walked away victorious, her clean shots forcing her opponents to run around while she barely seemed to break a sweat.
But it was in the second set where things took a turn. Tied at 2-2, Charney’s back was against the wall, the combination of a pair of aces, as well as calculated volleys at the net, reminiscent of her teammate’s style, brought her back into a winning position — ultimately driving her to win her set, 6-3. And when Bernales played her first game of the set, her fast-paced movement up and down the court and crushing volleys were evocative of the style of her partner.
“I try and do that where someone might be a little better from the baseline, someone may be a little better at the net,” Michigan coach Ronni Bernstein said.
Even as their styles differed, Charney and Bernales constantly built off one another, their opposite yet compatible approaches elevating both their individual and paired performances. Together, Charney and Bernales showed that the key to victory didn’t come in similarities, rather in their differences.
The post Piper Charney and Jessica Bernales’ juxtaposing styles key to Michigan victory against USCB appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
Leave a Reply