Tennis team gains momentum

The Libby girls tennis team won its last three matches against Sandpoint Friday (4-3), Columbia Falls (5-2) Saturday, and Ronan (6-1) Saturday, while the Libby boys also swept Columbia Falls (5-2) and Ronan (5-2).

Friday, the boys overpowered Troy (7-0) at home after suffering a loss against Sandpoint earlier in the afternoon, 2-4.

“The kids played really well,” said coach Kyle Hannah. “I’m starting to move kids around to give Libby the best opportunity to bring home a trophy and get kids to state.”

Hannah said although the players are ranked individually, they get team points for each match won, so every match counts.

“That’s where I’m hoping to do well and get a team trophy,” he said.

Last Saturday, Libby traveled to Columbia Falls, beating them and Ronan.

“They had a great weekend. We won both and the kids played really well,” said Hannah. “Veronika Cisco and Jackie Mee are starting to hit the ball with a lot of confidence.”

Libby’s next and last home game on the thirty-year-old courts they currently play and practice on will be Saturday, May 10 against Columbia Falls.

Beginning next year, their games will be played on the new courts, located next to the Montana Athletic Club.

The courts had a groundbreaking ceremony at their site last Monday, which the tennis team showed up to support along with members of UServe and city officials.

“We need to celebrate with them,” said Hannah. “We’re real excited, and the kids are excited to play on new courts.”

Freshman Audra Poppen said it would be fun to play on the new courts.

“It’ll make a big difference in how we play,” she said.

Senior Chris Schnackenberg added the courts they currently play on aren’t exactly safe to compete on.

“Hopefully the new courts will get more kids into tennis and build up the tennis program,” said senior Margeaux Zwang.

The future courts will also be open to the public.

“Thanks to the community and UServe specifically for having this happen for the kids and the community,” said Hannah.

Their next match is this Saturday in Bigfork.

Sandpoint Results

Libby Girls (4-3)

#1 Jackie Mee beat Abby Helander in 6-3, 6-4 #2 Veronika Cislo beat Jess Lindenberg in 6-2, 6-1

#3 Audra Poppen lost to Bailey Merwin in 5-7, 4-6

Lindsey Kehn lost to Miranda Carter in 1-6, 1-6 Doubles

#1 Nichole Newman and Riley Dinning beat Piper Wahlin and Justine Clawson in 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

#2 Katie Horelick and Anna Valentine beat Ashley Warrer and Hailey Woodruff in 6-2, 3-6, 7-5

#3 Cassi Moog and Ashley Shaw lost to Reb Johnson and Alison Fister, 0-6, 2-6

Libby Boys (2-4)

#1 Steven Hauck lost to Dustin Pierce in 2-6, 6-7(7-9) #2 Hunter Sheffield lost to Mikka Nostdahl in 0-6, 0-6

#3 Chris Schnackenberg beat Steven Gavin in 6-2, 4-6, 6-0

#4 Cody Ercanbrack beat Mike Berg in 6-0, 6-1 Doubles

#1 Cree Maloney and Cyrus Maloney lost to Dustin Pierce and Mikka Nostdahl in 3-6 and 0-6

#2 Levi Edwards-Myslicki and Nate Broden lost to Cameron Hay and Nik Tharrell in 3-6, 4-6

Troy Results

Girls (Did not compete)

Libby Boys (7-0)

#1 Hunter Sheffield beat Matt Rogers, 8-2

#2 Steven Hauck beat Joe Day, 8-3

#3 Chris Schnackenberg beat Jake Higgins, 8-4

#4 Jesse Ramos beat Brandon Rebo, 8-6

Doubles

#1 Cyrus Maloney and Cree Maloney beat Jesse Day and Shado Garrett, 8-7 (7-2)

#2 Nate Broden and Levi Edwards-Myslicki beat Mike Hirst and Kody Hoffman, 8-3

#3 Cody Ercanbrack and Joe Framont beat Login Lundin and Jeffrey Rebo, 8-1

Columbia Falls Results

Libby Girls (5-2)

#1 Jackie Mee beat Tyler Thompson in 6-0, 6-0

#2 Veronika Cislo beat Lydia Freeman in 6-0, 6-0

#3 Audra Poppen lost to Laura Burgi in 6-4, 2-6, 3-6

#4 Ashley Shay lost to Lexi Butkowski in 0-6, 2-6

Doubles

#1 Nichole Newman and Riley Dinning beat Shelby Hobbs and Stephanie Raymond in 7-6, 6-1 (9-7)

#2 Margeaux Zwang and Anna Valentine beat Shiloh Knutsen and Franki Anderson in 6-1, 6-0

#2 Katie Horelick and Cassi Moog beat Pepper Borbud and Sara Lucken in 6-1, 6-0

Libby Boys (5-2)

#1 Steven Hauck beat Billy Garcia in 6-2, 6-3

#2 Hunter Sheffield beat Scott Hopkins in 6-3, 6-1

#3 Chris Schnackenberg beat Chen Gao in 6-3, 6-1

#4 Nate Broden beat Weston Bartkoski in 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 (7-0)

Doubles

#1 Cyrus Maloney and Cree Maloney lost to Jake Rousch and Grant Getts in 3-6, 1-6

#2 Lewis Brossman and Levi Edwards-Myslicki lost to Cody Maynard and Geuze Kimmerly in 1-6, 0-6

#3 Cody Ercanbrack and Jesse Ramos beat Jon Piffey and Mark Johnson in 6-1, 6-1

Ronan Results

Libby Girls (6-1)

#1 Jackie Mee beat Brittany Courville, 6-0, 6-0

#2 Veronika Cislo beat Ashley McLeod, 6-1, 6-1

#3 Audra Poppen beat Brittany Cheff, 6-1, 6-3

#4 Ashley Shaw lost to Maria Bendikova, 1-6, 1-6

Doubles

#1 Nichole Newman and Riley Dinning beat Brigs Osle and Maria Bendikova,

6-0, 6-0

#2 Margeaux Zwang and Anna Valentine beat Shelby Fisher and Mikolch Thompson, 6-1, 6-1

#3 Katie Horelick and Lindsey Kehn beat Brittney Drake and Hayley Winlston, 6-2, 6-2

Libby Boys (5-2)

#1 Steven Hauck lost to Angel Nikolov, 3-6, 0-6

#2 Hunter Sheffield beat Frederick Kushelse, 7-5, 6-0

#3 Chris Schnackenberg beat Colton Cleff, 6-0, 6-1

#4 Lewis Brossman beat Troy McMoillen, 6-3, 6-0

Doubles

#1 Cyrus Maloney and Cree Maloney beat Even Waldron and Zack Robinson,

6-4, 6-4

#2 Nate Broden and Levi Edwards-Myslicki beat Austin Butler and Cody Adams, 7-5, 6-4

#3 Cody Ercanbrack and Joe Framont lost to Sage Burbarck and Jeff Blixt,

3-6, 1-6