BARKING BACK
SUPERIOR — Rain washed out some of the slate for Mission tennis this week, but when they took the court, they were able to achieve success and continue improving.
On Tuesday, April 24, the Lady Bulldogs improved by leaps and bounds from their last encounter with the Superior Lady Bobcats when they played them to a 3-3 draw.
SUPERIOR — Rain washed out some of the slate for Mission tennis this week, but when they took the court, they were able to achieve success and continue improving.
On Tuesday, April 24, the Lady Bulldogs improved by leaps and bounds from their last encounter with the Superior Lady Bobcats when they played them to a 3-3 draw.
“I’m very happy,” Lady Bulldog head coach Sara Ison said. “I’m pretty sure we are one of the very few, if not only team to have tied Superior this year.”
No. 2 singles player Jane Makepeace rallied from a set down to earn a gritty win over Kate Bullock 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.
“We have really been focusing on height over net and heavy topspin for all the singles girls,” Ison said. “Both matches (Superior and Troy) Jane had kind of slipped back into her normal play of really hard hitting and not very high over the net. After the first set in both of those games I had her switch back to the height over net and heavy topspin, waiting for her opportunity for a put away shot or to end the point at the net and both times she had huge success.”
Kayla Bilette, at No. 3, earned an impressive 6-3, 6-2 win against Megan Drury, while Briar Ahlborn, on a tear at No. 4, defeated Heather Kelly 6-3, 6-2.
“Kayla has impressed me with her perseverance,” Ison said. “The past couple matches she hasn’t been at her top game and struggling but that never gets her down or fazes her. She just keeps fighting and because of that inner strength, she is still winning her matches regardless of how well her game is that day. It’s easy to win on your best day but real winners are those that can win on their worst.”
Sarah Bowers fought hard against one of the state’s top players in Cary Chamberlain, but fell 6-2, 6-0. In doubles action, Cierra Dougherty and Cecelia Koskela nabbed a game from Myranda Kuhl and Hillary Stevens, but were downed 6-0, 6-1 while Camilla Sansonetti and Sohvi Kontro fought an uphill battle against Hailee Bahm and Ashley Pfabe, being defeated 6-0, 6-0.
Against Troy, the girls handled their opponents 5-1 while the Bulldogs fell by the same margin. Makepeace, again, lost the first set, but wasn’t deterred, coming from behind to take a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory while Billette handled Alissa Pepiot 6-2, 6-4.
The other two singles players, Bowers and Ahlborn, really stood out to Ison, as Bowers bounced back with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Holli Higgins, while Ahlborn kept rolling, 6-1, 6-0 over Jazmine Bienek.
“Briar and Sarah both had kick-butt matches,” Ison said. “They meant business and they went out there with authority in their playing.”
Randi Butterfly and Laura Eggeling won at No. 2 doubles by default, while Koskela and Dougherty fell to Kellie Lundin and Katie Lundin 6-0, 6-1. For the boys, Chris Camel fought for a first set win before hammering Casey Graff in the second, winning 6-4, 6-0.
“We had changed his grip so that he would have more control in trying to keep the ball from flying, he stuck with it and it helped toward his success,” Bulldog head coach Kimimi Ashley said. “Once he was able to keep control of the ball, he was putting points together and going for consistency. His composure was the best that he’s had this year.”
Top singles player Karl Daniels nearly pulled out the first set, but was downed by Creede Garcia 7-6 (4), 6-3.
“Karl did battle in the first set and just lost it by a couple of points,” Ashley said. “Once he got to 3-4 in the second set, he had his chances to get it back and take the lead, but his shots just weren’t going in.”
In other singles action, Felix Sonntag had a tough go of it against Bruce Metz, falling 6-0, 6-2, while Troy Bontrager was downed by Andrew Haggerty 6-1, 6-2. Harry Suta and Katz Yelsa hung with Gunner Jordan and Austin Duve before being defeated 6-4, 6-2, as did RJ Blood and Zeeshaun Ali, who fell by the same margin to Jeremy Helmrick and Spencer Swimley.
“I’m impressed with the improvement of RJ and Zeeshaun in their communication and positivity toward each other when they play,” Ashley said. “Their intensity and focus when they’re playing is nice to see, whether they win or lose.”
Mission faced Bigfork on Tuesday, but results were unavailable at press time. The teams travel to Valley Christian on Thursday and will host Loyola in a makeup match on Monday, May 7.
Mission 3, Superior 3
Bowers L to Cary Chamberlain 6-2, 6-0
Makepeace W vs Kate Bullock 1-6, 6-0, 6-4
Billette W vs Megan Drury 6-1, 6-4
Ahlborn W vs Heather Kelly 6-3, 6-2
Dougherty/Koskela L to Myranda Kuhl/Hillary
Stevens 6-0, 6-1
Sansonetti/Sohvi Kontro L to Hailee Bahm/
Ashley Pfabe 6-0, 6-0
Mission 5, Troy 1
Bowers W vs Holli Higgins 6-2, 6-3
Makepeace W vs Emily Anderson 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Billette W vs Alissa Pepiot 6-2, 6-4
Ahlborn W vs Jazmine Bienek 6-1, 6-0
Butterfly/Eggeling W by default
Koskela/Dougherty L to Kellie Lundin/Katie
Lundin 6-0, 6-1
Troy 5, Mission 1
Daniels L to Creede Garcia 7-6 (4), 6-3
Sonntag L to Bruce Metz 6-0, 6-2
Bontrager L to Andrew Haggerty 6-1, 6-2
Camel W vs Casey Graff 6-4, 6-0
Suta/Yelsa L to Gunner Jordan/Austin Duve
6-4, 6-2
Blood/Ali L to Jeremy Helmrick/Spencer
Swimley 6-4, . 6-2