Ronan tennis gets good experience at Hamilton Invite

WHITEFISH - The Ronan tennis team went to Whitefish last week where they faced stiff competition. The girls lost 6-1 and the boys fell 6-0.

However, where the girls lacked in points, they made up for in improvements.

Assistant coach Shelly Buhr noted that there was some progress on display.

"They're stroking the ball more," said Buhr. "There's more first serves landing in service court."

Missing from action was their number one singles player Amanda Oberg, which made a forfeit win for Whitefish.

Second match singles player Leslie Morigeau played competitively but lost to Whitefish's Brielle Mengazzi 6-3, 6-1.

Team Chaz West and Amanda Courville highlighted the doubles players, taking home the team's only win.

#1 singles boys player Joe Couture fell to Zack Opatz with a pair of 6-1's. #2 seed Chip Harding did the exact same thing, also losing 6-1, 6-1.

Team Devon Goldsby and Acorn Lonnie, went down, but not without a fight. They lost to team Cody Harrison and Kyle Jacobson 6-3, 7-5.

"(Goldsby) and (Lonnie) continue to play well but haven't quite turned out the victories," said head coach Gordon Cummings.

Cummings said that the opportunity was great for his team so they could see how long of a day it could be and hopefully prepare them for divisional play in a couple weeks.

Brooke Cornelius had two great wins before she lost to Eve Xanthopolis, Dillon's divisional champ from last year. She then lost to Polson's Jen Orchard to take fourth.

The boys struggled in Corvallis. Team Goldsby and Lonnie lost a third set tiebreaker in their first match and lost another tiebreaker in their second match.

"It was good for them to know they have to raise the level of their game at divisional play to do well," said Cummings.

Stevi provided the younger players some good experience where team Leslie Morigeau and Breanna Lake took third.

"That was great because they hadn't played doubles together with so many strong players," said Cummings. "We are still trying to find combinations that work."

Ronan boys and girls tennis host Hamilton Saturday at 10 a.m.

Girls

Whitefish 6, Ronan 1

D. Paulson WF, def Amanda Oberg (forfeit); B. Mengazzi WF, def Leslie Morigeau 6-3, 6-1; M. Lauterbach WF def Mariah Friedlander 6-0, 6-0; S. Martin WF def Desoree Rogers 6-0, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

A.Connelly / K.Peace WF def Breanna Lake / Jenna Rody 6-1, 6-1;, Chaz West / Amanda Courville, Rn def L. Books / S. Fuzesy 6-?, 5-7, 10-5; C. Maddock / K. McIntyre WF def Nicole Irvine / Ashley McLeod 6-2, 6-0

Boys

Z. Opatz WF def Joe Couture 6-1, 6-1; K. Archer WF def Chip Harding 6-1, 6-1; B. James WF def Ryan Hesselgesser 6-0, 6-2; I. Hosek WF def Josh Grenier 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

C. Harrison / K. Jacobson WF def Devon Goldsby / Acorn Lonnie 6-3, 7-5; B. Viscomi / R. Rollenbiller WF def Cody Rogers / Sean Jackson 6-1, 6-2; K. Archer / B. Hilleboe WF def Eugene Morigeau / Russ Doyle 6-1, 6-0