Boys Tennis: Libby edges Columbia Falls, 4-3

The Libby High School boys tennis team put together a well-rounded performance in a 4-3 dual victory on Friday over Columbia Falls.

The Loggers got singles wins out of Cree Maloney over Vadin Zvgelskiy, 6-4, 6-0, and Micah Germany over Nick Emerson, 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2. Doubles victories for the Loggers were posted by Alex Cislo and T.J. Benson over Brian Marcille and Parker Johnson, 6-0, 6-1, and Nate Broden and Lewis Brossman over Nathan Carr and John Woody, 6-0, 6-0.

Libby’s Crawford Dinning was involved in an intense, marathon match against the Wildcats’ Miroslav Zvgelskiy but ended up losing, 7-6 (7-1), 5-7, 6-2. At No. 4 singles, Chris Faulkner also put in a good effort but lost a close one to Chris King, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

The Wildcats’ Jordan Mueller and Andrew West beat Edson Vences and Zack Schikora, 6-3, 6-4, in the other doubles match.

A match against Lakeland on Friday was cancelled because of a scheduling conflict involving the opposing school.

Polson came away with a close 4-3 win on its own courts on Saturday over the Loggers.

The Pirates swept all four singles matches while Libby took all three doubles matches. Cislo and Benson (7-5, 6-3), Broden and Brossman (6-3, 6-0) and Germany and Faulkner (6-3, 6-2) were winners for LHS on the doubles court.

Schikora, Mike Wise, Ryan McCabe and Kyle Sweedman came up short in singles.

“We were missing a couple of boys,” said LHS coach Kyle Hannah, referring to Maloney and Dinning. “I think we could’ve beaten Polson with Cree and Crawford.”

Hamilton took a 6-1 dual win on Saturday over the shorthanded Loggers.

The lone Libby victory came at No. 1 doubles when Cislo and Benson defeated Jason Jessop and Parker Richards, 6-1, 6-4.

Faulkner and Sweedman pushed their opponents to the brink at No. 3 doubles but Reese Isherwood and Graig Weese won, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). Wise and Schikora also played competitively in their doubles match but came up short, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Brossman, Broden, Germany and McCabe dropped singles matches.

Libby plays at Whitefish on Thursday and the Cut Bank Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

For video from Columbia Falls vs. Libby, click here.

Libby 4, C. Falls 3

Singles–Maloney, L, def. V. Zvgelskiy, 6-4, 6-0; M. Zvgelskiy, CF, def. Dinning, 7-6 (7-1), 5-7, 6-2; Germany, L, def. Emerson, 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2; King, CF, def. Faulkner, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

Doubles–Cislo/Benson, L, def. Marcille/Johnson, 6-0, 6-1; Broden/Brossman, L, def. Carr/Woody, 6-0, 6-0; Mueller/West, CF, def. Vences/Schikora, 6-3, 6-4.

JV Singles–Edwards/Myslicki, L, def. Jurva, 8-1; Hamilton, L, def. Wollenzien, 8-0.

JV Doubles–Sweedman/McCabe, L, def. Wilke/Radabah, 8-3.

Polson 4, Libby 3

Singles–Roberts, P, def. Schikora, 6-1, 6-1; Congdon, P, def. Wise, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), McCurdy, P, def. McCabe, 6-0, 6-2, Storro, P, def. Sweedman, 7-5, 6-3.

Doubles–Cislo/Benson, L, def. Giles/Evertz, 7-5, 6-3; Broden/Brossman, L, def. Davey/Laimbeer, 6-3, 6-0; Germany/Faulkner, L, def. Pentilla/Hovenkotter, 6-3, 6-2.

Hamilton 6, Libby 1

Singles–Hupert, H, def. Brossman, 6-3, 6-3; Selis, H, def. Broden, 6-3, 6-2; Mead, H, def. Germany, 6-3, 7-5; Homyak, H, def. McCabe, 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles–Cislo/Benson, L, def. Jessop/Richards, 6-1, 6-4; Lewis/Silcher, H, def. Wise/Schikora, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Isherwood/Weese, H, def. Faulkner, Sweedman, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).