Girls Tennis: Libby downs Columbia Falls at home

The Libby High School girls tennis team played well in their first home appearance on Friday with a 6-1 victory over Columbia Falls.

Jackie Mee, Lindsey Kehn and Chelsey Oedewaldt all won singles matches. Mee, the defending Class A singles champion, dominated Natalie Law, 6-0, 6-0. Kehn was steady in a 6-3, 6-4 win over Gabrielle Stenger. And Oedewaldt rolled through Elena Potter, 6-1, 6-1.

The Wildkats’ only win came at No. 3 singles when Tamara Kolatschek defeated Tawyna Granger, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).

In doubles action, Anna Valentine and Audra Poppen teamed up to down Lexie Baltkoski and Franki Anderson, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). Ashley Shaw and Alissa Buti defeated Pepper Burland and Krystal Bedford, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1. Kyla O’Brian and Tana Wilson made it a Libby doubles sweep with a 6-3, 6-3 win over their opponents.

Mee and Oedewaldt each recorded singles victories but the Lady Loggers dropped a 5-2 dual at Polson on Saturday.

Mee defeated Jane Probst, 6-3, 6-0, and Oedewaldt took care of Kenzie Clay, 6-0, 6-2.

Kehn and Granger dropped the other two singles matches.

In doubles, Valentine and Poppen played well in a loss to Kendyall and Kayla Rochin.

“Audra and Anna – that was the first time they’ve ever taken a set off the Rochin girls,” LHS coach Kyle Hannah said. “It was a big confidence booster and a good start for them.”

The Rochin team won the match, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Libby’s Shaw and Buti, and O’Brien and Wilson lost in the other two doubles matches.

Mee won at No. 1 singles and Valentine and Poppen came out on top at No. 1 doubles in the Lady Loggers’ 5-2 dual loss to Hamilton on Saturday.

Mee rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Kelsey Jure. In her three matches so far this season, Mee has outscored opponents on points, 36-4. Valentine and Poppen won a marathon thriller over Kelsey Della Silva and Stella Quinlan, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Kehn, Shaw and Wilson dropped singles matches. Shaw and Wilson pushed their opponents to three sets. Granger and Oedewaldt, and O’Brien and Buti, lost in doubles action.

Libby heads to Whitefish on Thursday and the Cut Bank Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Libby 6, C. Falls 1

Singles–Mee, L, def. Law, 6-0, 6-0; Kehn, L, def. Stenger, 6-3, 6-4; Kolatschek, CF, def. Granger, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6); Oedewaldt, L, def. Potter, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles–Valentine/Poppen, L, def. Baltkoski/Anderson, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3); Shaw/Buti, L, def. Burland/Bedford, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1; O’Brien/Wilson, L, def. Piper/Tomburelli, 6-3, 6-3.

JV Doubles–Sullivan/Hardgrove, L, def. Hills/Hogadone, 9-7; Webster/Bowe, L, def. Karrick/Patrick, 8-0.

Polson 5, Libby 2

Singles–Mee, L, def. Probst 6-3, 6-0; Nunlist, P, def. Kehn 6-2, 6-1, Oedewaldt, L, def. Clay 6-0, 6-2; Quinn, P, def. Granger 6-4, 7-5.

Doubles–Kendyall Rochin/Kayla Rochin, P, def. Valentine/Poppen 6-3, 3-6, 6-2; Howell/Borchers, P, def. Shaw/Buti 6-0, 6-2; Engebretson/Zimmerman, P, def. O’Brien/Wilson 6-1, 6-2.

Hamilton 5, Libby 2

Singles–Mee, L, def. Jure, 6-0, 6-1; Conwell, H, def. Kehn, 6-0, 6-1; Moran, H, def. Shaw, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4; Schmit, H, def. Wilson, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Doubles–Valentine/Poppen, L, def. Della Silva/Quinlan, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; Rao/Lamar, H, def. Granger/Oedewaldt, 6-1, 6-3; Huppert/Maclean, H, def. O’Brien/Buti, 6-4, 6-2.