Pirate tennis teams swoop past visiting Vikings, Yellow Jackets

By Trent Makela / Leader Staff

The Polson tennis teams learned how sweet the home-court advantage can be last Saturday, sweeping both Bigfork and Stevensville.

The Pirates' toughest tests of the day came in the morning against Bigfork. The girls' team impressed with a 5-2 team win, while the boys' team escaped with a 4-3 victory.

"The weekend was about as good as it can get. Bigfork's probably our major conference rival as far as equal talent," Polson head coach Bob Hislop said. "It was big for us to get those wins."

The girls were led by a sweep from their three doubles teams. Their top tandem of Cali Hislop and Malika Erickson had the toughest match of the three, topping Vals Quindee Averill and Roxy Thurman 6-3, 6-4.

"Jane Probst also got a really big win for us against Bigfork in the number-two singles slot," Hislop said. "That's the kind of thing we need from the really young kids. Most people wouldn't really expect them to win those games for us."

The boys also picked up their victory by sweeping the doubles matches. Polson's number-three pair of T.J. Lipko and Jonah Barta eventually managed to top Vikings Evan Jordt and Ryan Gembala for the 7-5, 6-1 victory.

The Pirates were also surprised by their lone singles win, when number-four seed Shawn Medland finally escaped from Bigfork's Jordan Sabo 6-0, 0-6, 7-5.

"That was a schizophrenic tennis match," Hislop said. "I have no idea how either of those guys came away with a win."

The Polson teams had an easier time against Stevensville, as both squads breezed to 7-0 victories.

"Stevensville is one of the weaker teams I've seen in 17 years of coaching," Hislop said. "The kids went out there and did what they had to do to win."

The Polson boys' top singles player, Tyler Engebretson, may have provided the dual's most exciting match, topping visitor James Stockdale 7-5, 6-0.

"Tyler was playing a kid with a pretty unorthodox style and took some time to figure out a couple things," Hislop said. "Sometimes when you play against a kid who doesn't hit standard strokes, it's hard to figure his game out."

The Polson teams will return to action with a home dual against Columbia Falls today (Thursday, April 17). The Pirates will also host numerous teams for a series of quick duals on Friday and Saturday.

Boys - Polson 4, Bigfork 3

SINGLES - Phillip Myers, B, def. Tyler Engebretson, 6-1, 6-0; Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Kyle Cooper, 6-2, 6-0; Scott Taylor, B, def. Shad Giles, 6-0, 6-3; Shawn Medland, P, def. Jordan Sabo, 6-0, 0-6, 7-5. DOUBLES - Matt Roberts/Stefan McCrumb, P, won by forfeit; Seth Hovenkotter/Steven Roberts, P, def. Seth Gordon/Cole Francisco, 6-3, 6-0; TJ Lipko/Jonah Barta, P, def. Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala, 7-5, 6-1.

Girls - Polson 5, Bigfork 2

SINGLES - Kelly Deaton, B, def. Kelsie Jones, 6-1, 6-3; Jane Probst, P, def. Jade Bosic, 7-5, 6-2; Jen Wirth, B, def. Sarah Keeble, 6-1, 6-2; Kelsie Howell, P, def. Nicolette Peterson, 6-4, 7-5. DOUBLES - Cali Hislop/Malika Erickson, P, def. Quindee Averill/Roxy Thurman, 6-3, 6-4; Maddie Grebetz/Mattea York, P, def. Arianna Shults/Lisa Kelsey, 6-1, 6-2; Cassie Ward/Kayla Rochin, P, def. Clair Wilken/Ann Marie Loesse, 6-1, 6-0.

Boys - Polson 7, Stevensville 0

SINGLES - Engebretson, P, def. James Stockdale, 7-5, 6-0; S. Roberts, P, def. Riley Slaughter, 6-0, 6-0; Cooper, P, def. Cody Stevens, 6-0, 6-0; Barta, P, def. Mark Jaleazzi, 6-0, 6-0. DOUBLES - McCrumb/M. Roberts, P, def. Levi McConnell/Justin Stockdale, 6-0, 6-0; Hovenkotter/Giles, P, def. Ryan Dufrese/Sam Lubbers, 6-0, 6-2; Medland/Lipko, P, def. Travis Griffin/Nathan Taveres, 6-1, 6-0.

GIRLS - Polson 7, Stevensville 0

SINGLES - Hislop, P, def. Shelby Conner, 6-0, 6-0; Probst, P, def. Sarah Allred, 6-0, 6-4; Howell, P, def. Misiel Ravina, 6-2, 6-0; Kendyall Rochin, P, def. Cassidy Morgan, 6-4, 6-4. DOUBLES - York/Erickson, P, def. Brittany Constantino/Becky Weidow, 6-0, 6-0; Ward/Grebetz, P, def. Christina Boberg/Josie Clark, 6-0, 6-3; Jones/Kayla Rochine, P, def. Kylee Anderson/Courtney Liston, 6-1, 6-3.