Paulson, Bulldogs, Pirates eye three-peats
There will be little drama surrounding the Class A divisional girls tennis tournament, which begins today at 4 p.m. at the Glacier Tennis Club and the courts at Flathead Valley Community College.
Two-time divisional and state champ Danni Paulson is back for one more go as she tries to lead Whitefish to a three-peat on the team front.
The Whitefish senior has put together another impressive record, going 18-0 this spring in dual competition and 67-0 for her prep career.
"She has lost only two games all year," said WHS coach Patrick Dryden.
"She's just so driven. Her goal was to not lose a gamel all year; that's just absurb. But that just shows the competitor she is. She never lowers her game to the competition. She just raises her goals."
Girls singles action will start at FVCC with the boys at the tennis club.
"I really don't see a Class A team being able to compete with us in a dual," said Dryden.
"Unfortunately were not playing that format at divisional, so we will really have to go toe-to-toe with Polson. Now we have to change our focus to the tournament style."
Dryden calls the team battle between Whitefish and Polson "a toss up."
Jenn Orchard of Polson, a divisional runner-up last year, Emily Emmert of Columbia Falls, Trisha Smith of Bigfork and Brielle Menegazzi of Whitefish will all battle for playoff berths in singles.
Orchard is 14-2 on the season, both losses to Paulson. She only lost four sets all season.
"The main thing now, for divisionals and state, is how well her ground strokes hold up against tougher comeptition," said Polson coach Bob Hislop of Orchard.
In doubles, Emily Fors and Malika Erickson of Polson and Sarah and Kate Marcille of Columbia Falls are the class of the field.
"Those are the two top teams in the state," said Dryden.
Fors and Erickson are 11-2 on the season. They finished second at divisional a year ago, but did not place at state.
Whitefish's Taylor Beach and Kate Whitaker hope to be one of the state qualifiers. Beach last year qualified in singles play.
"They have been playing together for a month," said Dryden of Beach and Whitaker.
"I see them getting stronger every match."
The Polson boys will be shooting for a three-peat and will be led by three talented singles players in Andy Dykstra, 13-3 on the season, Derrick Roberts and David Sicz.
Matt Harris of Whitefish and Libby's Mike Bardole and Gabe Sorenson will challenge for state berths.
On the doubles side, it's too close to call.
"The top five teams are very, very good," said Hislop.
"I wouldn't want go guess who would win it."
Whitefish's Ryan Rottenbiller and Kyle Jakobson are seeded No. 1.
Colton Woods and Brett Vandeberg of Polson are seeded third.
Bigfork has a talented duo in Owen Roberts and Joe Wolstein.
Wolstein is regarded at the top doubles player in the field.
"I like our chances in both," said Hislop.
"I just think Whitefish is going to be pretty hard to beat."
Doubles play gets under way Friday at 8:15 a.m. at FVCC.
The tournament resumes Saturday at 8:15 a.m.
The top four singles and doubles teams advance to state, May 25-27 in Polson.
This event was originally scheduled for Libby, but poor court conditions there forced the divisional to be moved to Kalispell.