Tennis: Mission making strides

MISSION — While the Mission Bulldogs took it relatively easy with just one match last week, the Lady Bulldogs played plenty of tennis.

Both enjoyed a measure of success.

MISSION — While the Mission Bulldogs took it relatively easy with just one match last week, the Lady Bulldogs played plenty of tennis.

Both enjoyed a measure of success.

The Lady Bulldogs had a tough start to their week, falling 6-0 to Superior/Alberton on Tuesday, April 10. At No. 3 singles, Kayla Billette gave her opponent a run, but was downed 6-3, 6-1. Blair Ahlborn, Mission’s No. 4, took a game from Megan Drury before being defeated 6-0, 6-1. Unfortunately, the rest of the girls had a tough time against a very talented team.

At No. 1, Jane Makepeace fell to Cary Chamberlain 6-0, 6-0, the No. 1 doubles team of Randi Butterfly and Cecelia Koskela suffered the same fate against Myranda Kuhl and Hilary Stevens, as did Laura Eggeling and Camilla Sansonetti against Caitlin Coleman and Hailee Bahm.

“We took away what we needed to work on,” said Lady Bulldog head coach Sara Ison. “That in itself is a positive thing. To play a team like Superior helps everyone see what they should work on in order to become a solid team like they are.”

The Lady Bulldogs made strides two days later when they traveled to Bigfork and stayed close, losing just 4-2. Billette battled hard to earn a gritty 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 victory over Madison Fraley to earn Mission’s only on court victory. Cierra Dougherty was awarded a win by default at No. 4 singles.

Makepeace, at No. 1 singles, won her fair share of games, but couldn’t take a set against Kianna Wicklund, falling 6-3, 6-4. At No. 2, Sarah Bowers captured a bit of success, but couldn’t overcome McKenzie Shults, being defeated 6-3, 6-2.

The doubles teams of Butterfly/Eggeling and Koskela/ Ahlborn couldn’t quite get things started, each ending up being defeated in straight sets 6-0, 6-0. Mission wouldn’t let it linger two days later when they faced Darby. The girls worked hard and earned a 4-2 victory to end the week on a positive note.

Billette earned her second victory of the week, again in dramatic fashion, coming back to earn a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory.

“Kayla played a really good opponent who ran down every one of her balls and her opponent knew how to hit passing shots at the net,” Ison said. “Nevertheless Kayla prevailed and did really well at being calm and continuing to wait for her moment to put the ball away. It was a tough match and great conditioning for her.”

Makepeace shook off two losses earlier in the week to get in the win column 6-1, 7-5 over Brianna Massey. Makepeace looked a little frustrated after Massey broke serve to narrow the gap late in the second set, but bounced back to claim the straight-sets win.

“It may not have been one of her best performances but tennis isn’t always pretty,” Ison said. “A win is a win. She put together some really nice points.”

Dougherty and Bowers both claimed forfeit wins, giving the Lady Bulldogs the match win.

At No. 2 doubles, Eggeling and Butterfly rallied to force a deciding third set, but would be edged by Raeghan Johnson and Jade Skinner 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

“I like that they did not give up,” Ison said. “After losing the first set 6-2, they could have chosen to throw the towel in but instead they fought back. Every point I saw them, they were positive and encouraging each other. It was nice to see in a doubles team.”

Ahlborn and Koskela made a match of their meeting with Julie Abrahamsen and Brittani Muir late, but couldn’t quite force a third set, being downed 6-0, 6-3. In the Bulldogs’ only match of the week, a Harry Suta victory helped Mission split with Bigfork 3-3. Suta beat Avery Folkman 6-4, 6-0 and two doubles forfeit wins allowed the Bulldogs to take the tie.

At No. 1 singles, Karl Daniels became a marathon man, losing an intense three-set match against Colter Mahlum that lasted more than two hours, 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5).

“Karl had a good match once he got going,” head coach Kimimi Ashley said. “His match could have gone either way once both players got going. I was pleased with how he didn’t let his errors get him down and got right back into each point to fight for the next one.”

Ashley was also happy with how No. 2 Felix Sonntag did in defeat. While he lost in straight sets, Sonntag didn’t make it easy on Shane Parks before succumbing 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.

“Felix is improving with each match in being able to keep his focus in check,” Ashley said. “He did much better in his match in keeping his unforced errors down.”

Troy Bontrager took a few games from Logan Lamm in his match at No. 3 singles before being defeated 6-2, 6-1. Ashley noted that Zeeshaun Ali and RJ Blood, who played a back match after their doubles forfeit, impressed in a gritty 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 win.

“They are communicating better on the court with each other and getting to know each other’s ability when they play together,” Ashley said. “It is fun to see them gaining some success.”

Looking ahead, both coaches are very happy with what they’ve seen lately and where their teams are headed.

“I was pleased across the board with more fight in the boys,” Ashley said. “They seem to be gaining more knowledge that even when they are down in a match, if they do some important things in holding and breaking serve or trying to take advantage of an opponent’s weakness, they will get themselves back in the match.”

This week, both Mission teams will take on Ronan on the road on Thursday to open a busy week.

“I’m most looking forward to playing Ronan again with our No. 1 and 2 singles players back and with Kayla in the singles lineup. Rivalry is always fun and I’m excited to show our rivals what our team really looks like,” Ison said with a smile.

The next day, the Lady Bulldogs will host Eureka before the boys and girls head to Bigfork for a flight on Saturday, April 21.

Superior/Alberton 6, Mission Girls 0

Singles – Cary Chamberlain, SA, def. Jane Makepeace, 6-0, 6-0; Emma Wooldridge, SA, def. Sarah Bowers, default; Kate Bullock, SA, def. Kayla Billette, 6-3, 6-1; Megan Drury, SA, def. Blair Ahlborn, 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles – Myranda Kuhl/Hilary Stevens, SA, def. Randi Butterfly/Cecelia Koskela, 6-0, 6-0; Caitlin Coleman/Hailee Bahm, SA, def. Laura Eggeling/Camilla Sansonetti, 6-0, 6-0.

Mission Girls 4, Darby 2

Singles - Jane Makepeace (M) def Brianna Massey (D) 6-1, 7-5; Sarah Bowers (M) won by default; Kayla Billette (M) def Lacey Dollater 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Cierra Dougherty (M) won by default

Doubles - Julie Abrahamsen and Brittani Muir (D) def Briar Ahlborn and Cecelia Koskela 6-0, 6-3; Raeghan Johnson and Jade Skinner (D) def Laura Eggeling and Randi Butterfly 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

Bigfork 4, Mission Girls 2

Singles - Kianna Wicklund def Jane Makepeace 6-3, 6-4; McKenzie Shults def Sarah Bowers 6-3, 6-2; Kayla Billette def Madison Fraley 7-6 (10-8), 6-4; Cierra Dougherty won by default;

Doubles - Alannis Stallknecht and Makenna Gembala def Randi Butterfly and Laura Eggeling 6-0, 6-0; Mariah Bradstreet and Genovieve Gibson def Cecelia Koskela and Briar Ahlborn 6-0, 6-0

Mission Boys 3, Bigfork 3

Singles - Colter Mahlum (BF) def. Karl Daniels (SI) 6-2, 6-7(3-7), 7-6(7-5) Shane Parks (BF) def. Felix Sonntag (SI) 7-6(7-4), 7-5 Logan Lamm (BF) def. Troy Bontrager (SI) 6-2,6-1 Harry Suta (SI) def. Avery Folkman (BF) 6-4, 6-0

Doubles - K.Yelsa/C.Camel (SI) won by forfeit; RJ Blood/Z.Ali (SI) won by forfeit