Mission boys out-swat Loyola netters

MISSOULA — At Loyola, the Mission Boys out-played Loyola to take home a 7-2 victory, largely due to four sweeping singles victories on behalf of four of the Bulldog’s top hitters.

The Mission girls lost 6-2 when they were bested by Loyola in all three doubles matchups.

Mission senior Clayton Makepeace found his stroke for a two set win at the top spot and senior Wyatt McCollum played some great tennis to do in a Loyola opponent who had beat him three times last season in the No. 2 match. McCollum won the first set 6-0 and finished it off 6-3, a strong rebound from the week before.

Sophomores Spencer Ahlborn and Traily Bundy were the other Bulldogs to secure wins.

“Spencer Ahlborn is starting to put some ‘thump’ on his forehand strokes and should only get better as the season goes on. Being only a sophomore, looking forward to not only the end of the season at where he will be, but to the rest of his high school career,” Mission head coach Kimimi Ashley said.

She was also pleased to see Bundy, a first year player, take his match.

“He has been working hard in practice and liking the game. The coaches were very pleased to see that he was taking the net on every point he played. He seemed very comfortable out there on the court. Looking forward to see him also as he improves throughout the year,” she said.

On the doubles end, McCollum and exchange student Marius Eck couldn’t hold off their opponents after winning the first set in the battle for top honors but McCollum and Ahlborn were able to take the No. 2 match in two 6-3 sets.

The only wins for the girls came in the third and fourth place singles matches for Mission freshman Jane Makepeace and foreign exchange student Christy Gao.

“Jane is hitting well and will only get better as we add some more offensive tactics to her game. She has a good sense of the court out there, but needs to work some more on ending her points sooner and not just outlasting her opponent.”

The tenacious freshman has won all three of her singles matches this season. She says keeping her eye on the prize has been the key to victory. 

“I just try to keep up high energy through the match and even when you start to lose just don’t get down cause there’s no way to catch up again then,” Jane said.

Playing at the high school level has been a welcome challenge, Jane said, with each opponent bringing something new to the court.

“Everybody had a different style of playing and you’re used to hitting against the same people in practice and you have to go out against someone else and adjust to their style,” she said.

Gao is another player who shined when the time was right against Loyola.

“Christy is one of our foreign exchange students and has been a fun part of our team. She is new to tennis and is progressing steadily and it’s fun to see her get excited when she accomplishes a new skill, or like today, wins her match,” Ashley said.

Boys

St. Ignatius 7

Loyola 2 

Singles

C. Makepeace (SI) def. M. Breza (L) 6-4, 6-3

W. McCollum (SI) def. E. Dieziger (L) 6-0, 6-3

S. Ahlborn (SI) def. D. McDowell (L) 6-2, 7-5

M. Tarbert (L) def. B. Schock (SI) 6-2, 7-5

T. Bundy (SI) def. A. Hacker (L) 10-3

Doubles

C.Cross/J.Finch (L) def. T.McCollum/M.Eck (SI) 4-6, 6-2, 10-5

W.McCollum/S.Ahlborn (SI) def. K.Doyle/T.Blome (L) 6-3, 6-3

Girls

Loyola 6

St. Ignatius 2

Singles

W.Bennet (L) def. A.Fehrs (SI) 6-3, 6-1

V.Grossman (L) def. S.Bowers (SI) 6-3, 6-4

B.Todd (L) def. Y.El-Menshawy (SI) 3-6, 7-5, 11-9

J.Makepeace (SI) def. L.Kosena (L) 7-5, 6-3

Christy Gao(SI) def. Kelly (L) 10-2