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Mother-Daughter Tennis Duo Take National Title

GPS alumna and current student team up to win tennis tournament in Florida.
Mothers and daughters share a special bond, but for Meg Glass Bandy ’87 and her daughter, GPS senior Maddox Bandy, their connection has played out in national success on the tennis court. This past weekend, Meg and Maddox served and volleyed their way to the top of the Open Division of the U.S. Tennis Association’s Mother-Daughter Doubles National Clay Court championships in Naples, Florida.

“We had really tough matches in both the semifinals and finals,” Meg says. Their final match went to 3-6; 6-2; 6-4. The Bandy duo won the same event in 2014 in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and placed second in 2015. “We had a great time,” Meg adds. “Maddox is such a dynamic doubles player. I really just do whatever I can to make the other team hit to her.”

Each year USTA mother-daughter tournaments are played on four different surfaces: hard courts, grass, indoor, and clay. The Bandys plan to compete in the hard court tournament in November in Houston, Texas. “I feel very fortunate to get to play with Maddox and really enjoy it,” Meg says. “Some of the teams we have played get so upset with each other on the court, and that doesn’t look like much fun.”

Together, Meg and Maddox have logged a lot of hours—on the courts and traveling to tournaments around the country. “The player/coach/parent relationship is very special,” says Sue Bartlett, GPS Director of Tennis and Varsity Tennis Coach.

Maddox won the TSSAA Individual State Doubles Championships at the Spring Fling in 2015 and 2016 with her doubles partner and good friend Jenna Thorstenson '16. “Maddox is an excellent doubles player,” Coach Bartlett says. As a senior, Maddox has her sights set on playing college tennis and is talking to a few coaches.

Meg played tennis at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Bartlett was her coach Meg’s freshman year at UTC before Bartlett came to GPS. Meg would go onto become Bartlett’s assistant coach at GPS from 2008-16, coaching Maddox and her teammates; Meg is now the assistant varsity tennis coach at McCallie.

"Playing the USTA National Mother-Daughter events is very special,” Coach Bartlett says. “My daughter and I played it twice, and it was one of the most rewarding times in my life. I know Meg feels the same way.”
 
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