Battling Bigfork

ST. IGNATIUS - The Mission Bulldogs had a tall task with the

Class B-C defending state champions, Bigfork, coming into town on

Tuesday, April 5, but handled it well, tying with the Vikings, 3-3

in dual play.

ST. IGNATIUS - The Mission Bulldogs had a tall task with the Class B-C defending state champions, Bigfork, coming into town on Tuesday, April 5, but handled it well, tying with the Vikings, 3-3 in dual play.

"I was pleased with the boys and how they played," Mission head coach Kimimi Ashley said. "Our line-up wasn't true due to some changes for that one meet and it was a chance for Karl Daniels and Trail Bundy to play some singles. They both did well."

Defending state champion Spencer Ahlborn took down Bigfork's Dylan Rickenbach 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the No. 1 matchup to move his record to 3-0 on the season.

"Spencer's match was good for him because his opponent sent a lot of balls back and it gave Spencer a lot of time to work on his net game and pinpoint out the little things that need to be polished," Ashley said.

The Vikings' Colter Mahlum had to battle past Karl Daniels 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) in the No. 2 slate.

"Karl could play either singles or doubles and it was good for him to get some singles time in and shake off some of the freshman nerves," Ashley said.

Mission's Bryan Shock fell to Ryan Gembala, 1-6, 6-1, 10-8 in the No. 3 matchup, but Trail Bundy evened the score for the Bulldogs with a 6-3, 6-3 win over John Lyon.

"Trail is having a good year all around. Not just in meets, but in practices and just his overall attitude towards tennis and the year," Ashley said. "He is so ready to just play and be on the courts at all times. "

In doubles action, Brandon Conko and Mauro Grosso of Mission won the No. 1 match by default while Shane Parks and Nate Robertson of the Vikings defeated Kats Yelsa and Troy VanTrager 10-3 in the No. 2 matchup.

Against Troy last Saturday, it was a somewhat different lineup for the Bulldogs, but it proved to be successful as Mission won 5-1.

"Troy wasn't there with their full team, but it was a good chance for us to feel around with who our fourth seed singles and No. 2 doubles team may eventually be," Ashley said.

Ahlborn stayed undefeated with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Jeffrey Rebo. Kyle and Bryan Schock both picked up victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 singles slots and Kats Yelson wrapped things up at No. 4 with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory.

"Kats did a great job at the No. 4 singles spot," Ashley said. "He is a steady player and I was pleased to see him using a lot of the good form that we have been teaching in practices. He has a feel for the angles on the court and keeps a person on their toes."

In doubles action, Bundy and Daniels downed Troy's Derrick Winslow and Casey Graff 6-1, 6-0.

"Trail likes playing the net and can frustrate his opponent with his angles. He looks like a nice, unassuming player, but he is an animal out on the court - such a joy to be able to coach," Ashley said. "Karl is very capable of being singles or doubles and we haven't made up our mind yet in what he will do at state. We will place him at what we feel will give him, and the team, both the chance at being the most successful."

The two seem like a very solid combination, but nothing has

been set in stone for the post-season.

"I am very pleased with how well they are gelling personality wise," Ashley said. "Sometimes that can be the biggest thing to overcome before you even get to their tennis skills and teaching how to play the game of doubles. They hang out together on and off the court."

With Bundy away on a school trip, Daniels will be playing singles next week for the Bulldogs, however, that could continue to change in the future.

Troy's Andrew Haggerby and Spencer Swimley just got past Mission's Mauro Grosso and Rune Grumsen, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

"Mauro and Rune have been showing their competitive sides and willingness to work hard in practices, so we tried them at No. 2 doubles and were pleased with how quickly they learned," Ashley said. "They learned a lot just in that one game, and ‘learned by playing.' They took Troy to three sets and walked off understanding a lot more about doubles."

Ashley said that she liked the competitiveness she's seeing from certain players and the willingness to put in the work and play hard for the win. In dual play already, the Bulldogs look solid with a 2-1 record.

"I am pleased with the way the team started," Ashley said. "They are a great bunch of boys who are coachable and enjoy being out on the courts. We have only lost a couple players for various reasons and there is a great variety amongst the team right now in personality and ability."

Bigfork 3, Mission 3

Singles

Spencer Ahlborn, Mission, def. Dylan Rickenbach 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Colter Mahlum, Bigfork, def. Karl Daniels, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)

Ryan Gembala, Bigfork, def. Bryan Schock 1-6, 6-1, 10-8

Trail Bundy, Mission, def. John Lyon 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles

Brandon Conko/Mauro Grosso, Mission, winner by default

Shane Parks/Nate Robertson, Bigfork, def. Kats Yelsa/Troy VanTrager 10-3.

Mission 5, Troy 1

Singles

Spencer Ahlborn, Mission, def. Jeffrey Rebo, 6-1, 6-0

Kyle Schock, Mission, def. Austin Dive, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Bryan Schock, Mission, def. Bruce Metz, 6-4, 7-5

Kats Yelsa, Mission, def. Gunnar Jordan, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1

Doubles

Trail Bundy/Karl Daniels, Mission, def. Derrick Winslow/Casey Graff, 6-1, 6-0

Andrew Haggerby/Spencer Swimley, Troy, def. Mauro Grosso/Rune Grumsen, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.