Chiefs, Maidens have strong showing at Libby Invite
RONAN MAIDENS tennis player Morgan Brooks attempts a backhand in the Libby Invitational Saturday at Libby High School. (Photo courtesy of Jim Blow)
RONAN TENNIS player Coleman Taylor attempts to volley an offering from an opponent in the Libby Invitational Saturday at Libby High School. (Photo courtesy of Jim Blow)
The Ronan tennis team was led by Bailey Moss, who finished fourth in the boys singles bracket, and Breanna Turpin and Julia Matkovich, who went 1-1 in the girls doubles bracket Saturday at the Libby Invitational.
Players were guaranteed two matches but it wasn’t a true double-elimination tournament. According to coach Jim Blow, the team struggled with the length of the drive to Libby.
“It was a long drive and an early start,” Blow said. “Both our singles boys were yawning through their first matches. They just struggled to get up on their toes and press their opponents. But they played much better in their second matches.”
Bailey Moss won a three-setter (4-6, 6-4, 10-6) to earn a spot in the consolation championship. He then faced Bigfork’s Michael Bedford, who had earlier edged out Coleman Taylor 6-3, 6-3 in a tight match. The consolation match was one of the last matches of a long day. Bailey won the first set 6-4 but Bedford rallied to win the second set in a 7-6 (7-5) tiebreaker. The two slugged it out in a 10-point super tiebreaker with the light waning. Bedford won an epic battle 13-11 to finish the match.
“Bailey was disappointed, but I’m awfully proud of how he battled,” Blow said. “This was a good tournament for him and our whole team to shake off the effects of spring break. Now, we need to focus on stepping up our games as we work toward divisionals.”
Blow said he felt Thomas Yellowbird and Garrett Anderson played “good tennis” despite going 0-2. The had a great comeback going in the second match against a Whitefish squad. The Chiefs won the second set 7-6 with a 7-5 tiebreaker to force a super tie-breaker before being edged 10-6.
“They are still figuring out how to play as a doubles team but this level of competition is really helping them improve,” Blow said.
Blow said Julia and Breanna played a “solid” opening match with a 7-5, 6-3 win over a Bigfork team. They lost 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinals to a good Cutbank squad to finish 1-1 for the day.
“They had played well at times and they’re certainly capable, but they’ll need to flatten out their peaks and valleys to be successful against the better teams in our division,” Blow said. They just need to put it all together.”
Morgan Brooks played the first girls match of the morning, then waited eight hours to play her second match. She went 0-2 on the day but she had some solid moments against some very good base liners, according to Blow.
“She needs that kind of experience to keep stepping up her game to the next level,” Blow said
The Chiefs and Maidens will head to Anaconda for a dual on Monday, then host Mission, (Superior girls only) and possibly Bigfork on Thursday. Then they’ll host Valley Christian, Bigfork, and Mission on Saturday at Ronan High School.
The Chiefs and Maidens will also host divisionals in two weeks. That event will feature all of the teams from the conference and the area.