Polson Tennis: Facing the Best

Polson boys face two state champs, Polson girls sweep in dual

action

POLSON - The adage goes, to be the best you have to play the best. The Polson boys' tennis team certainly did that last Friday, hosting not only the Class A state champion in Corvallis, but also the Class B state champ, Bigfork.

"I'm sure that's never happened before," Polson head coach Bob Hislop said of the double-whammie matchup. "They probably both have a good chance of winning state again."

Case in point, of the nine players that the Bigfork team brought down on Friday, eight of them were seniors. The Vikings won the morning matchup with the Pirates 6-2, but the battle was much closer than it looked on paper.

"It's a sport where you can play close as an individual and the score may not look very good," Hislop said.

Hayden Congdon, Justin Evertz, Brady Hislop and Ian Laimbeer all had close battles in their singles matches, but fell. Congdon went into extra sets against Bigfork's Evan Jordt before falling 5-7, 6-4, 12-10.

In double's action, Bigfork surrendered the No. 1 matchup while Polson's Sam Kinzle and Dylan McCrumb picked up the 6-3, 6-3 victory over Shane Parks and Kyle Campbell.

In their afternoon matchup against Corvallis, Polson again put the pressure on their opponent, but came up short 4-3 against the Class A defending state champions.

"We were right there with them and had a lot of chances," Hislop said.

Congdon won his match in the No. 2 singles slot with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Tanner Zsupnik and Polson's Andrew Storro took out Corvallis' David Stevens 6-4, 6-2.

"Hayden Congdon had a fabulous day," Hislop said. "He played a good match in the morning and came back to win in the afternoon."

In doubles action, Corvallis won the No. 1 matchup, but Ian Laimbeer and Dylan McCrumb had a battle in the No. 2 doubles slot, pushing Corvallis' Isaac Smith and Tim Allsop

before falling 6-4, 7-5.

In the No. 3 doubles match, Polson's Sam Peel and Reed Hovenkotter downed Mack Reichard and Drew Myers in another battle, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.

Polson girls sweep in dual play

Last year, senior Kendyall Rochin was playing with her sister in doubles action and finished in fourth place at state.

This time around, she's making some noise on her own as

Polson's No. 1 tennis player in singles.

"We're going to get the absolute best effort from her," Hislop said of Rochin. "She's quick and has become a very,

very good ball-striker."

Making the transition isn't easy though, as the player must go from a team-oriented version of the sport to a one-on-one matchup.

"It's a lot harder than you'd imagine, you don't have someone else to rely on," Hislop said. "One of my players

once described it as being on a deserted island, but there are a lot of kids that thrive on that. Kendyall can deal with the bad days and she doesn't gloat or brag on the good days."

Rochin posted two No. 1 wins to help lead her team to two wins last week, as the Lady Pirates downed Bigfork, 6-1 and Corvallis, 4-3, last Friday.

In the morning matchup against Bigfork, Rochin downed Hannah Barrett, 6-3, 6-3. That set the tone as Whitney Zimmerman battled to win against Bigfork's Kianna Wicklund,

7-6 (7-3), 6-1.

"Whitney is changing from a consistent player to a hitter," Hislop said. "You can win in Class A by being more technical with a lot of kids, but if you want to play at a top level you have to be a good hitter. Whitney is making that transformation."

Hislop said that Whitney is hitting the ball better and hitting her spots on the court.

Jordan Quinn also picked up a win against Bigfork, defeating Ariel Stallknecht, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6.

In doubles play, Polson swept with Audra Engebretson and Kenzie Clay picking up the win by forfeit at the No. 1 spot. Tegan Bauer and Mollybeth Hendrix, defeated Bigfork's

McKenna Gembala and Miranda Miller, 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 while Sara Robinson and Dominique McGowan rounded out the sweep for Polson by downing Bryne Tilton and Mariah Bradstreet, 6-4, 6-2.

Against Corvallis in the afternoon matchup, the Lady Pirates won in a tight one. Rochin picked up a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Lexi Fangster, Zimmerman continued the good play for Polson by downing Brooked Heckeroth 6-1, 6-3.

Corvallis won the No. 3 and No. 4 singles matches and then won the No. 1 doubles match. However, Polson would get a victory from their No. 2 doubles team, as Audra Engebretson

and Karly Rochin defeated Samantha Stoker and Kailey Holmes, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. They also got the pivotal No.

3 doubles victory from Sara Robinson and Dominique McGowan who toppled Lacey Allsop and Jaurice Cooper, 6-2, 6-0.

Overall, Hislop likes where his teams are at this point in

the season.

"I think we're headed in the right direction," Hislop said.

"It's just a learning process. They're all smart kids and

they're come around fast."

Bigfork 6, Polson Boys 2

SINGLES

Colter Mahlum, B, def. Brady Hislop, 6-3, 6-2

Dylan Rickenbach, B, def. Justin Evertz, 7-5,6-2

Evan Jordt, B, def. Hayden Congdon, 5-7, 6-4, 12-10

Ryan Gembala, B, def. Ian Laimbeer, 6-2, 6-4

Will Davey, P, def. John Lyon, 7-5, 6-4

Nate Roberson, B, def. Andrew Storro, 6-7 (7-5), 7-5, 10-7.

DOUBLES

Reed Hovenkotter/Sam Peel, P, won by forfeit

Sam Kinzle/Dylan McCrumb, P, def. Shane Parks/Kyle

Campbell, 6-3, 6-3.

Corvallis 4, Polson Boys 3

SINGLES

Mitchell Decker, C, def. Brady Hislop, 6-1, 6-2

Hayden Congdon, P, def. Tanner Zsupnik, 7-5, 6-4

Andrew Storro, P, def. David Stevens, 6-4, 6-2

Jake Pekoc, C, def. Sam Kinzle, 6-1, 6-1.

DOUBLES

Bridger Walczynski/Cody Lengyel, C, def. Justin Evertz/Will Davey, 6-0, 6-0

Isaac Smith/Tim Allsop, C, def. Ian Laimbeer/Dylan McCrumb, 6-4, 7-5

Sam Peel/Reed Hovenkotter, P, def. Mack Reichard/Drew Myers, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.

Polson Girls 6, Bigfork 1

SINGLES

Kendyall Rochin, P, def. Hannah Barrett, 6-3, 6-3

Whitney Zimmerman, P, def. Kianna Wicklund, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1

Jordan Quinn, P, def. Ariel Stallknecht, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 McKenzie Shults, B, def. Karly Rochin, 6-2, 6-3

DOUBLES

Audra Engebretson/Kenzie Clay, P, won by forfeit

Tegan Bauer/Mollybeth Hendrix, P, def. McKenna Gembala/Miranda Miller, 6-3, 6-1

Sara Robinson/Dominique McGowan, P, def. Bryne Tilton/

Mariah Bradstreet, 6-4, 6-2

Polson Girls 4, Corvallis 3

SINGLES

Kendyall Rochin, P, def. Lexi Fangster, 6-1, 6-3

Whitney Zimmerman, P, def. Brooke Heckeroth, 6-1, 6-3

Hannah Lockhart, C, def. Mollybeth Hendrix, 6-3, 6-4

Megan Lenglyel, C, def. Tegan Bauer, 6-3 6-0

DOUBLES

Sydnee Madruga/Lairen Phinney, C, def. Kenzie Clay/Jordan Quinn, 7-5, 6-3

Audra Engebretson/Karly Rochin, P, def. Samantha Stoker/Kailey Holmes, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

Sara Robinson/Dominique McGowan, P, def. Lacey Allsop/Jaurice Cooper, 6-2, 6-0.