WEB EXTRA Mission hitters show promise early

LIBBY - After practice finally gave way to the first match of the season, the boys and girls of Mission tennis finally got to put their rackets to use against the competition.

At Libby, the Mission girls rolled to a 2-0 win over the home team but fell 3-2 to Eureka's swatters. 

A monster singles win by freshman Jane Makepeace started things off right for the Lady Bulldogs. Makepeace made quick work of Libby's Chelsey Oedewaldt 6-1 and 6-3.

Makepeace is right where she belongs with the Lady Bulldogs, Mission head coach Kimimi Ashley said.

“Jane is a quiet girl that fits in perfectly with the chemistry of the team. She doesn't need to make much noise, but she is a nice hitter,” Ashley said. 

In a less lopsided battle, Mission's Yasmine El-Menshawy, an exchange student, took down Libby's Tanya Granger at the No. 2 spot. El-Menshawy took the first set 6-3 but lost the second by the same score. Rebounding in tremendous fashion, El-Menshawy burned Granger 6-0 in the last set to secure her team's shutout.

“Yasmine's strong point right now is her mental state. She means business out there whether it is in practice or a meet,” Ashley said.

Against Eureka, Mission freshman Sarah Bowers had a battle at the first spot, but couldn't quite contain Eureka's Sandra Corliss, who beat her 6-3, 6-0.

Ashley is confident Bowers' game is set to  improve.

“Sarah Bowers played well against her opponent and doesn't let much get by her. Once we start getting her to focus on the offensive part of her game, she will join the other girls on the team as a player to watch. She is only a freshman and has a good future in front of her,” Ashley said.

The team's only returner, senior Anna Fehrs, took a quick win over Eureka's Aelizabeth Houser, winning the first two sets by 6-2.

Makepeace won another one against Eureka, and Mission's Lyssia McDonald performed well in a loss to Houser.

“As the year goes on, Lyssia McDonald could be making her way into the singles bracket,” Ashley said. “She is enjoying the game and understanding it. In an exhibition match she held her own against Eureka's current No. 1 player this weekend,” Ashley said.

Mission also lost a doubles match to Eureka to finish up. In other exhibition play, El-Menshawy impressed again with a 3-set win over a Bigfork opponent.

On the boys end of things, Mission senior Clayton Makepeace took a big comeback win at the No. 2 singles spot over Libby's Hunter Sheffield. After falling behind 6-0 in the first set, Makepeace picked himself up to win the next two 7-6 and 6-4.

“… You could just tell by his body language that he loosened up and started enjoying the game. He started setting up the points and moving in to end his points with volleys. It was nice to see him not getting down on himself in those last two sets and just playing. If he keeps that up all season, he will be a force at the end of the year state tournament,” Ashley said.

The other Mission singles hitters had a tougher go. At the No. 1 seed, senior Wyatt McCollum fell 6-3 and 7-5 to Libby's Alex Cislo.

Although Ashley said Wyatt has high expectations, loosening up and making sure he has fun will be the best compliment to his work ethic and skill down the road.

“He will be ready come state tournament,” she said.

Also falling in two sets were Mission sophomore Spencer Ahlborn and senior Tyrell McCollum at the third and fourth singles spots.

At doubles, the Mission boys had more success, with newcomers Marius Eck and Bryan Shock earning a victory at the No. 2 postion, by a score of 6-2, 6-2.

Tyrell and Shock also knocked down their opponents in a 3-set battle at the No.3 position, by a score of 6-1, 5-7, and 6-3.

Sorting out the doubles lineup is an important immediate task, Ashley said.

Throw another Mission newcomer, Trail Bundy, who competed with Eck in the No. 1 singles loss, into the mix, and Ashley has some big decisions to make.

“They aren't making it easy in deciding who will pair up with Tyrell in No. 1 doubles and are looking for another consistent boy in regards to showing up for practices and meets to round out the No. 2 doubles spot,” she said.

The Mission tennis teams play next at 4 p.m. on Monday at Loyola.