Loggers split Friday tennis matches
The Libby Loggers boys tennis team took to the court against a strong squad from Bigfork Friday afternoon and came away with a 4-3 team victory on the back of strong singles play.
In No. 1 Singles, Walter Briones continued his dominance, dispatching Bigfork’s Kyle Thomson, 6-0, 6-0.
Cody Wood sent Alex Buenz packing in straight sets, winning 6-2 and 6-4.
Kody Bailey picked up his first set in No. 3 Singles action 6-4, and then sealed the match against Michael Bedford with a second-set tiebreaker, 7(8)-6.
Libby’s Jhamaal Sykes had to reach into a tiebreaker to beat Mack Paine in No. 4 Singles, 7(2)-6, but stormed back to blank his challenger in the second set, 6-0.
“Kody Bailey and Jhamaal Sykes are becoming solid singles players,” said Libby coach Kyle Hannah. “They have both put in extra time practicing their serve and strokes.”
The doubles teams weren’t as successful.
Jason Brant and Colin Maloney droped 6-4, 5-7, 5-7 to Bigfork’s Isaac Martel and Adam Jordt in No. 1 action.
In the No. 2 spot, Gabe Peck and Gio Cano lost in straight sets, 2-6, 0-6 to George Gibson and Ben Russell.
Erik Lauer and Braydan Thom also lost their No. 3 doubles match against the same Bigfork pair, Gibson and Russell, 2-6, 3-6.
“Jason Brant and Colin Maloney lost a tough match, but played extremely well together. Their upbeat and explosive doubles game will give teams trouble,” Hannah said.
The girls didn’t fare quite as well as the boys, although No. 2 and 3 singles players Dani Hawthorne and Paula Fernandez secured wins.
In No. 1 singles, Kaylene Hudson lost in straight sets, 4-6, 4-6, to Lana Berg.
Dani Hawthorne needed three sets to send Karlee Park packing, losing the first set 4-6, but coming back to win 6-4, 6-3 and take the match.
“Dani Hawthorne is also playing well in singles. She is feeling more and more comfortable being on the court by herself,” Hannah said.
In No. 3 action, Paula Fernandez dispatched Kalia Wicklund in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.
“Paula Fernandez is playing some awesome tennis,” said Hannah. “She is determined to get to every ball and keep the ball in play. Those types of players are hard to beat in high school tennis.”
Katie Alspaw was blanked, 0-6, in her first set of No. 4 singles against Abby Fraley, but fought her way back to a second-set tiebreaker 6(4)-6, but then fell 4-6 in the third set to lose the match.
“Katie Alspaw had the longest match of the season, over two-and-one-half hours long. She started off slow, but started trusting in her short-to-short shots to get herself back into the match and frustrate her opponent,” Coach Hannah said.
All three of Libby’s doubles teams lost in straight sets, with Jenna Barrick and Cloie Boardner dropping 4-6, 3-6, to Brooke Bonner and Alauna Weilacher. Laurynn Lauer and McKenzie Cosgriff lost 0-6, 2-6 to Jame Berg and Sophie Hasselmeier. Isabelle Martineau and Shannon Reny lost 0-6, 0-6 in No. 3 doubles action.
“All three doubles teams are becoming more and more comfortable playing with each other. It’s nice to see that they are starting to be able to coach themselves and help each other out during the matches,” Hannah said.