Whitefish, Columbia Falls split in tennis
WHITEFISH — When the pressure’s on, Mackenzie Thomas delivers.
The Whitefish senior pulled out a tough 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 win at No. 4 singles over Gabby Keller of Columbia Falls to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 Northwestern A dual tennis win and a season sweep of the Wildkats on Thursday.
“They dominated singles, we dominated doubles ... it all came down to No. 4 singles match,” Whitefish coach Patrick Dryden said. “The last match of the day.
“Gabby Keller had a set point in the tie-breaker at 9-8, but Mackenzie Thomas played a phenomenal point, made some really nice shots, hit a clear winner and closed out the set 11-9. That was a turning point in the match. It was a long, hard-fought set.
“This is the third time Mackenzie Thomas has done this for us (this spring), win a deciding match in a 4-3 victory. She’s really handling pressure well.”
Whitefish (7-3) closes out regular season play on Saturday at Libby. Columbia Falls hosts Libby today in its finale.
Singles — Gabrielle Stenger, CF, def. Simone Craft, 6-4, 6-2; Natalie Law, CF, def. Anna Carpenter, 6-1, 6-2; Emma Covill, CF, def. Caroline Carbo, 6-3, 6-1; Mackenzie Thomas, W, def. Gabby Keller, 7-6 (11-9), 6-2.
Doubles — Lindsey Viscomi/Megan Danczyk, W, def. Kira Kamrud/Kiersten Wendt, 6-0, 6-0; Haley Craven/Ryan Chauner, W, def. Micinze Christopherson/McKenna Emmerich, 6-0, 6-1; Lauren Cain/Maggie Frankino, W, def. Courtney Seward/Hailey Sapa, 6-1, 6-4.
Boys
Columbia Falls 5, Whitefish 2
COLUMBIA FALLS — With victories at all four singles spots and a win at No. 3 doubles, Columbia Falls turned the table on Whitefish with an easy Northwestern A dual win.
Whitefish won the earlier meeting this spring by the same score.
“Brian Marcille did a great job at No. 1 singles,” Columbia Falls coach Gary Yee said. “No. 3 doubles (Wyatt Wollenzien and Mike Sandefer) clinched that one in a tie-breaker. That was great.”
Yee mixed his lineup up a little bit on purpose for this outing.
“My No. 1 doubles — Parker (Johnson) and Miroslav (Zvyagelskiy) — they needed something a little bit different,” Yee said of why he moved them to Nos. 2-3 singles.
“Keep it fresh for us (and them).”
Both were impressive — Johnson won 6-1, 6-1 and Zvyagelskiy rolled 6-0, 6-2.
Columbia Falls wraps up regular-season action today at home with Libby. Whitefish finishes Saturday at Libby.
Singles — Brian Marcille, CF, def. Matteo Barbuti, 6-0, 7-6 (7-0); Parker Johnson, CF, def. Holden Roberts, 6-1, 6-1; Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, CF, def. Nick Jack, 6-0, 6-2; Caleb Baumann, CF, def. Kolter Larsen, 6-0, 6-2.
Doubles — Camp Kenyon/Conner Ellis, W, def. Andrew West/Mason Gedlaman, 6-2, 6-0; Austin Satler/Sean Janni, W, def. Gavin Thelan/Josh Potter, 6-2, 6-1; Wyatt Wollenzien/Mike Sandefer, CF, def. Hayden Eaton/Bailey Jack, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).