How Zeeland West’s Emily Haskill transforms her game every single match in search of title

When Emily Haskill reached the No. 1 singles spot as a freshman, she knew it would be a tough road.

But the Zeeland West tennis player made the most of that year, learning from her opponents and building on her biggest strength – finding her opponents’ weaknesses.

In an OK Black Conference full of top-level players at No. 1, that trait could lead the Dux sophomore to a conference championship.

“I know how to switch up my pace and what type of balls I can play. I can switch it up depending on the opponent and that has helped me win a lot of matches,” Haskill said. “This conference is tougher, and each player is at a similar level but does it with different skill sets. I have to switch things up against each of them.”

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It is that kind of poise and game planning that keeps Haskill ahead of her opponents.

“For her to come in as a freshman and take No. 1 singles and cement that spot (is incredible). Emily is an extremely hard worker and has really set the tone of putting in the time and being a phenomenal teammate,” Zeeland West coach Lance McKinney. “From a mental standpoint, she is never rattled. She could be up 6-0 or down 5-2 and you wouldn’t know it. She handles the responsibility of No. 1 singles very well.”

It wasn’t easy.

“Last year, it was just a big change from middle school to first singles. I was definitely out of my comfort zone and it helped prepare me for this year,” Haskill said. “Now I have the same situation and more experience and it is pretty freeing.”

Haskill is 13-1 heading into the May 9 tournament at Holland, with one close loss to Holland Christian’s Gabi Rooks.

It is just a layer of what could be a very interesting, chaotic conference tournament.

Haskill defeated Holland’s Ahava LeFebre on May 6, 6-3, 6-3. Rooks also defeated LeFebre, but it took her three sets. Meanwhile, LeFebre defeated Hamilton’s Isabelle Troost – also in three sets.

Haskill’s ability to change up her game to fit her opponent could come up huge in this kind of situation.

“She can play against any of the different styles. She can handle the heavy hitters, consistent players, others who can change styles,” McKinney said. “Her malleability to really adjust to what the player has and counteracting those strengths is not a common thing.”

This is the biggest group of even players at the top of a conference that the area has seen in girls tennis.

Let the chaos begin.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.   

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Zeeland West tennis Emily Haskill transforms her game every match