Whitefish, Polson vying for net titles
The Daily Inter Lake
The Northwestern A divisional tennis tournament got started on Thursday, with host Libby running the show at the FVCC and the Glacier Tennis Club courts.
The event was moved from Libby to Kalispell due to court concerns.
After the first day of play, the Loggers still have Mike Bardole and Tiffany Casey forging ahead in the championship bracket. The other six netters for Libby will have to battle back through the consolation rounds to place in the top four to qualify for state.
One of those athletes is Varonika Cislo, a freshman and definite bright spot for Libby's tennis future, who lost a heartbreaker in three sets to Polson's Kelsey Delancy, 6-3, 1-6, 6-7 (7-5). Cislo played a great match with strong serves and good control of ball placement.
Cislo would run Delancy all over the court, push her back to the baseline and then drop a lob shot close to the net. But Delancy stepped up her play in the second set and got her backhand clicking.
Whitefish had a strong first day, advancing six players - three boys and three girls - in the championship bracket.
Polson put up a good fight as well, and is set up to challenge Whitefish for divisional titles, especially on the boys side.
There were no doubles matches played, but they will start today.
Girls
Round One
Singles - Danni Paulson, WF, bye; Dana Gross, CF, def. Sara Grotjohn, Lib., 6-0, 6-3; Cassie Keller, BF, bye; Elise Bennett, Pol., bye; Tiffany Casey, Lib., bye; Jessie Kuennen, WF, bye; Emily Pyles, Pol., def. Brianna Hughes, CF, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Emily Emmert, CF, bye; Brielle Menegazzi, WF, bye; Kelsey Delancy, Pol., def. Varonika Cislo, Lib., 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5); Chelsea Smith, CF, bye; Trisha Smith, BF, bye; Mariah Driscoll, WF, bye; Chelsea Wilson, CF, bye; Nicole Neuman, Lib., def. Nicolette Peterson, BF, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Jen Orchard, Pol., bye.
Round Two
Singles - Paulson, WF, def. Gross, CF, 6-0, 6-0; Bennett, Pol., def. Keller, BF, 6-0, 6-1; Casey, Lib., def. Kuennen, WF, 6-4, 6-3; Pyles, Pol., def. Emmert, CF, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7); Menegazzi, WF, def. Delaney, Pol., 6-1, 6-3; Smith, BF, def. Smith, CF, 6-1, 6-2; Driscoll, WF, def. Wilson, CF, 6-4, 6-3; Orchard, Pol., def. Neuman, Lib., 6-0, 6-0.
Boys
Round One
Singles - Andy Dykstra, Pol., bye; Hunter Sheffield, Lib., def. Josh Palumbo, CF, 6-0, 6-0; Brendan Viscomi, WF, bye; Jordan Sabo, BF, bye; Ian Hosek, WF, bye; Cody Maynard, CF, bye; Jason Newton, Pol., def. Shawn Barrett, BF, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3); Mike Bardole, Lib., bye; Derrick Roberts, Pol., bye; Scott Johnson, WF, def. Wes Jackson, CF, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3); Gabe Sorenson, Lib., bye; Philipe Myers, BF, bye; David Sicz, Pol., bye; Grant Getts, CF, bye; Justin Thorstenson, Lib., def. David Myers, BF, 6-3, 6-4; Matt Harris, WF, bye.
Round Two
Singles - Dykstra, Pol., def Sheffield, Lib., 6-0, 6-0; Viscomi, WF, def. Sabo, BF, 6-2, 6-1; Hosek, WF, def. Maynard, CF, 6-1, 6-2; Bardole, Lib., def. Newton, Pol., 7-5, 6-4; Roberts, Pol., def. Johnson, WF, 6-1, 6-4; Myers, BF, def. Sorenson, Lib., 6-2, 6-2; Getts, CF, def. Sicz, Pol., 6-4, 6-3; Harris, WF, def. Thorstenson, Lib., 6-0, 6-0.