Mission beats rain, Loyola
ST. IGNATIUS - The Mission tennis team earned its second victory in as many weeks, taking down Loyola last Tuesday in a rain-shortened 3-2 team win.
Despite the weather wreaking havoc on the team's schedule all week, the boys took three of four singles matches against Loyola to earn the win. Playing 10-game pro sets, the boys got wins from junior No. 1 Spencer Ahlborn, 13-11, junior No. 2 Wes Nowlan, 10-3, and junior No. 4 Brian Schock, 10-1. Junior Xavier Streets experienced a close loss, 8-10, but head coach Kimimi Ashley liked the effort from her No. 3 singles player.
"Xavier has stepped up to the plate the past couple of weeks," she said. "He has the fire in his belly and is looking forward to state. Not sure until the middle of this week if he will be at singles or doubles, but he is very coachable and a hard worker and will do good in either position."
The boys headed for Corvallis Saturday and faced a powerful opponent, losing 0-6. Streets had the closest call of all the matches, falling 6-7 (6-8), 5-7 in the No. 3 singles slot.
"Corvallis is a tough team and has been whooping up on all of their opponents in their division," Ashley said. "I like the boys to see those kinds of teams, though. They are seeing kids that play year round with indoor courts and are very tough competitors. It lets them get a taste of things that they need to work on as individuals."
Ashley was encouraged despite the defeats, but noted that the team must be prepared for the tough stretch run as the second half of the season approaches full swing.
"The boys as a whole need to step it up one notch for the second time around in playing the conference teams," she said. "We will be playing Loyola, Valley Christian and Troy in team meets this week and it is time for them to play those matches tough for the wins. We tied them all the first time around, but our line-up should be confirmed by then in regards to who we will be taking to state play, so I am looking for them to step on the courts mentally and skillfully tough. Nothing less will do at this time of the season. State is right around the corner and they have to know when to pull the trigger when it is needed to win."
The girls had a tough week as the rain and inclement weather toyed with them as well. The Lady Bulldogs only got in three matches against Loyola last Tuesday, losing all three, before rain drowned out the rest of play.
Sophomore Jane Makepeace played a solid No. 1 singles match, falling 8-10, while No. 1 doubles duo of senior Becky Hiatt and sophomore Sarah Bowers were leading their match 4-2 before the rain wiped them out. Ashley has high hopes for the singles players to improve as the season picks up.
"There are a couple of girls that are getting close each time they play," she said. "They need more sets played during practices, but the weather just hasn't been cooperating. There is a difference between doing drills, having practices indoors and playing live sets so you are match tough. Looking for those singles players to focus hard on their next couple of meets before divisionals and not being so careful with their shot selection. Time to get aggressive and end the points sooner and up their racket head speed for the winners."
A match Thursday against Darby was rained out, but the girls took to the courts Saturday, falling to Eureka 1-5. Senior Rachel Jensen made a run at a victory, winning the first set before falling 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, in the No. 3 singles match. The lone win came from No. 1 doubles Hiatt and Bowers, who have formed a formidable duo, Ashley said.
"They have had nothing but success since we paired them up and they are loving the match up," Ashley said. "They are very capable of bringing home a first place from divisionals with a bit of tinkering the next two weeks. They both like playing the net and communicate well with each other."
A busy week is ahead for the Bulldogs. The girls play today at Valley Christian, while the boys play Friday at home against Troy. Both teams will be in Missoula Saturday taking part in two different tournaments.