Libby boys beat Bigfork, 5-2; girl netters beaten, 1-6

Citing the ability to practice outdoors, Libby High School tennis coach Kyle Hannah is seeing the maturation of his squads, perhaps never so evident in the paring Friday against Bigfork.

“We’ve been playing some good competition, and that always helps to improve your game,” Hannah said Friday as his boys sqaud had taken a commanding lead against Bigfork.

“They’re all improving because we’ve been able to practice outside more. It has helped tremendously.”

Libby’s No. 1 boys player, Jason Schnackenberg, who Hannah said has been improving his game with almost every match, dropped his match to Colter Mahlun, 6-3, 6-4.

“He’s just a sophomore, so I’ve got him another two years,” Hannah said, “and I’m looking forward to that.”

Libby won at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 singles and in Nos. 1 and 3 doubles to secure the 5-2 match.

“Our No. 1 doubles team of Lane and Ian are really coming around. They’re improving immensely,” Hannah said of the lop-sided victory of Ian Myslicki and Lane Luscher.

Other winners were Dan Leggins, Andrew Smith and Rob Hamilton in singles and Jake Reny and Josh Broderick in No. 3 doubles.

The day also included Troy, which also played Bigfork,

“It’s not quite a triangular match,” Hannah said of the pairing. 

“We won’t play Troy. Troy and Bigfork will square off.”

In the Libby girls matchup against Bigfork, No. 3 singles player Patricia Manikova defeated Bigfork’s Madison Fraley in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

The results for Troy’s matchup with Bigfork were unavailable.