Alyssa Zellers returns a shot for Warsaw Monday night. The freshman capped an undefeated NLC regular season mark at No. 3 singles in a 5-0 league win at Goshen.

GOSHEN – The term “love” means nothing on the tennis court.

When the word though is applied to how much the sport means to Warsaw’s Alyssa Zellers it means an awful lot.

Zellers, the fantastic freshman for the Tigers, showcased her love on the court once again Monday night.

Zellers capped off a perfect run through Northern Lakes Conference play this Spring as the Tigers blanked host Goshen 5-0 in the league and regular-season finale at Goshen Middle School.

Zellers, in fitting fashion, walked off the No. 3 singles court Monday evening with the clinching point for the team win for her squad.

Warsaw improved to 10-3 overall and finished 5-2 in NLC play heading into the conference tournament, which starts Wednesday at WCHS. Goshen falls to 2-14 overall and 0-7 in league action.

“I just go out every match and play the game and try to do my best,” said Zellers. “It’s cool to go undefeated in the NLC. It tells me that my hard work has paid off.”

Zellers has fit right in this season to an experienced Tiger lineup on team that reached the semistate a year ago. The freshman teams with juniors Liza Lewis and Ella Knight to give Warsaw a potent punch in its singles play. The addition of Zellers also enabled the Tigers to move Colette Smith to No. 1 doubles, where she teams with Athena Schlitt for a formidable tandem.

“We have all played together in the past (in the offseason) so I felt like I already fit in,” Zellers explained. “There’s always pressure out there. But I just go out and do it. Tennis ia big deal to me. It’s 24/7 for me.”

Zellers, who will be the top seed at her position for the NLC Tournament, has lost just one set in seven league matches this Spring. She dropped a 6-4 final to Maya Klopfenstein of Concord last Wednesday before winning the final two sets 6-3, 6-2. She also showed her maturity and mettle last Thursday in rallying for a 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 win over Lilia Rosique of Culver Academy indoors at Culver.

Warsaw coach Rick Orban had nothing but plenty or praise for his talented freshman.

“Alyssa absolutely loves the game, she listens and she trusts me when I tell her something,” said the longtime Tiger coach. “It’s her mental game, her love of the game and the fact that she hates to lose that makes her so tough. I’m not surprised at all by the success that she has had this season.”

Liza Lewis awaits a serve during her No. 1 singles match Monday evening.

The Tigers wasted no time in taking care of business Monday.

Warsaw got outstanding doubles play to quickly grab a 2-0 lead. The duo of Athena Schlitt, the lone senior in the lineup, and junior Colette Smith rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win over seniors Elsie Koop Liechty and Claire Penner at No. 1 doubles for the first point of the night. The team of sophomores Rachel Boyle and Amy Herendeen were right behind after a 6-0, 6-1 victory over freshmen Brooke Grewe and Anna Podgorski at No. 2 doubles.

Zellers capped the team win by downing senior Cheyenne Kalb  6-0, 6-3 to run her NLC mark to 7-0 at No. 3 singles.

The Tigers capped the shutout as junior Ella Knight beat senior Lineth Alvarez 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles and junior Liza Lewis defeated senior Kayleigh Crowder 6-3, 6-0 on the No. 1 singles court.

“What I wanted to see tonight was how well we came out and played the first 3-4 games of each match,” Orban said. “I was thrilled with how we did that. Everyone was focused at the start. We had a little lull in a couple of matches after that, but that’s okay.

“I really did not know that Goshen was 0-6 in the conference coming into tonight. I don’t talk about the other team’s record with our girls anyway. Our goal is to come out and play our best tennis no matter who we are playing.

“It will be interesting to see how our girls react at the NLC Tournament. It’s a building stone for going into the sectional the following week.”

The Warsaw junior varsity won eight of nine matches Monday night. Winning for the Tigers in singles play were Maddie Ray, Izzy Ray, Raegan Merchant and Addison Marshall. Also victorious for the JV squad were the doubles teams of Rachel Yeager and Sophia Schlitt, Jasmine Baker and Sophia Parke, Emma Hoff and Sophie Olson and Katrielle Rodgers and Charlotte Grandon.

Warsaw will host the NLC Tournament Wednesday through Friday. The Tigers will then aim for a 17th straight sectional championship next week, also at home.

Rachel Boyle readies at the net in doubles action.

Ella Knight follows through on a serve.