Polson tennis finishes strong

LIBBY - The Polson girls' tennis team kept up solid play and showed it is the team to beat in Class A as they earned three team wins and only lost one match on the week.

"[The] girls continue to play some of the best tennis of the season," head coach Bob Hislop said. "We lost one match in three duals, and that was to last year's state singles champion."

Besides the lone loss, the team only lost one set on the whole week. The team started their week with a 7-0 romp over rival Ronan last Tuesday. Sophomore Whitney Zimmerman blanked her opponent Tashina Barnaby 6-0, 6-0, while doubles duo senior Kelsie Howell and sophomore Mackenzie Clay dropped their No. 2 doubles opponent, Seri Smith and Brianna Frank, 6-0, 6-0 as well.

Whitefish was the next team to be victimized by the girls as they rolled to another 7-0 team victory last Thursday. Senior Jane Probst cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles while sophomores Jordan Quinn and Audra Engebretson found success at No. 3 doubles, prevailing 6-0, 6-2.

Libby put up the toughest competition, as they boast one of the best athletes and tennis players in the state in senior Jackie Mee. Sophomore Kendyall Rochin put up a good fight against her at the No. 1 singles spot before falling 3-6, 2-6.

"In that loss, Kendyall Rochin gave a preview to her abilities in singles with the tennis that provided Jackie Mee with her closest match of the season," Hislop said.

Kendyall and her sister, senior Kayla, went undefeated on the week, including a 6-2, 6-4 win over Libby at No. 1 doubles that gave them an undefeated season at doubles.

"Kendyall and Kayla also sewed up the number one seed in doubles with a win over Poppen and Valentine of Libby," Hislop said. "It is the second consecutive season they have gone undefeated in the northwestern Class A conference regular season."

Contributions came from every spot, Hislop said. Sophomore Karmen Borchers went undefeated playing at No. 2 and 3 singles, as did senior Erika Nunlist.

While the record wasn't as sparkling clean as the girls', the boys' team had success during the last week. The team opened with a 7-0 win over Ronan last Tuesday. Senior Jacob Browne won decisively, 6-2, 6-1, over Spencer Sucha at No. 3 singles, as did sophomore Ian Laimbeer and freshman Will Davey, who took a 6-1, 6-3 decision over Chase Allen and Jess Smith at No. 2 doubles.

Thursday night saw a close team loss, 3-4 to Whitefish. The highlight of the night was "a real nice three-set win" by senior Matt Roberts 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 at No. 1 singles. Sophomore Reed Hovenkotter had a nice three set win as well, taking the 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) decision at No. 4 singles.

The team finished the week with a 1-6 loss, but Hislop said, "Saturday's one-sided loss to Libby is a very deceiving result." The lone win came from junior Andrew Storro at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-4, but Hislop said the other matches were extremely close.

"A 1-6 loss could have very easily been a 5-2 Pirate victory," he said.

One such match included senior Shad Giles and junior Justin Evertz, who fell 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (3-7), their only loss of the week.

"Shad Giles and Justin Evertz had a 30 - love lead on Evertz serve at 5-4 in the third set and ended up losing in the third set tiebreaker," Hislop said. "Matt Roberts also lost a heartbreaker 6-4 in the third that was a match for the regular season singles champ of the division."

Despite the inconsistent week for the Pirates, both the boys' and girls' teams will get a fresh slate when they compete in the divisional tournament, beginning today through Saturday in Kalispell.