Pirates hoping for tennis sweep

All signs, or should it be said all seeds, point to Polson cleaning up most of the top honors at the Northwestern A divisional tennis tournament.

Polson, the tournament host and unbeaten in league dual play this spring, has the No. 1 seeds in girls singles — Whitney Zimmerman — girls doubles — Mackenzie Clay and Mollybeth Hendrix — and boys singles — Brady Hislop.

Columbia Falls has the other top seed at doubles with the talented duo of Parker Johnson and Miroslav Zvyagelskiy.

Play starts today at 10 a.m. with the bulk of the action at the Linderman Courts.

“If the weather is good, we’ll be done Friday night,” Polson coach Bob Hislop said.

The Polson girls are going for their sixth straight divisional crown.

Polson’s boys are

seeking their first title since 2007.

The Libby boys have won the last two divisional championships.

“Dual-team wise, we’re strong, deep,” coach Hislop said.

“We still have to perform well. We’ll just see how it pans out at divisional and state.”

The top four singles players and doubles teams move on to state May 24-26 in Great Falls.

Brady Hislop and Zimmerman were both undefeated in league action.

There are nine players returning who placed last year at divisional.

Johnson finished third in singles, while Zvyagelskiy was second in doubles with his brother Vadim, who graduated.

Polson’s Will Davey will be going for his second straight doubles title, but with a new partner — Ian Laimbeer. Davey last year was teamed with Justin Evertz, who has graduated.

Zimmerman was a singles runner-up, losing in three sets to teammate Kendyall Rochin, who has graduated.

Also in singles, Polson’s Sara Robinson, the No. 2 seed, was third a year ago and Columbia Falls’ Gabrielle Stenger, the No. 3 seed, was fourth.

Back to doubles, Polson’s Jordan Quinn was second with Kenzie Clay, who has graduated. This year she is teamed with Karly Rochin and they are seeded second.

No. 3 seed Audra Engebretson and Karmen Borchers of Polson were third last year in doubles.

Northwestern A Seeds

Girls

Singles — Whitney Zimmerman, Polson; Sara Robinson, Polson; Gabrielle Stenger, Columbia Falls; Kaya Hardgrove, Libby

Doubles — Mackenzie Clay and Mollybeth Hendrix, Polson; Jordan Quinn and Karly Rochin, Polson; Audra Engebretson and Karmen Borchers, Polson; Megan Danczyk and Lindsey Viscomi, Whitefish

Boys

Singles — Brady Hislop, Polson; Brian Marcille, Columbia Falls; Matteo Barbuti, Whitefish; Jason Schnackenberg, Libby

Doubles — Parker Johnson and Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, Columbia Falls; Camp Keynon and Connor Ellis, Whitefish; Will Davey and Ian Laimbeer, Polson; Hayden Congdon and Dylan McCrumb, Polson