Whitefish, Polson netters sweep

The Daily Inter Lake

WHITEFISH — Whitefish dominated most of the action and also pulled out tight wins at No. 3 singles and Nos. 2-3 doubles to claim a 7-0 girls dual tennis victory over Northwestern A rival Libby on Thursday.

The victory gives Whitefish a 2-0 mark on the young season.

Whitefish’s Annika Gordon stopped Katie Alspaw 7-5, 6-4 at No. 3 singles.

In No. 2 doubles, Keara Delaney and Cassidy Grady slipped by Libby’s Dani Hawthorne and McKenzie Cosgriff 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.

At No. 3 it was Melissa Pollard and Holly Hileman beating Libby’s Paula Fernandez and Issabella Martineau 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

“It seemed like the girls who struggled (on Tuesday) played extremely well today while some of the girls who played well Tuesday struggled today,” Whitefish coach Patrick Dryden said.

Whitefish will play Lewistown at noon and Hardin at 5 p.m. today at the Cut Bank Invitational.

The invitational runs through Saturday.

Whitefish 7, Libby 0

Singles — Katie Fyall, W, def. Kaylene Hudson, 6-0, 6-3; Anna Peterson, W, def. Sarah McBride, 6-1, 6-2; Annika Gordon, W, def. Katie Alspaw, 7-5, 6-4; Makenna Benbrook, W, def. Laurynn Lauer, 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles — Heather Luedke/Hannah Madsen, W, def. Jenna Barrick/Cloie Boardner, 6-0, 6-1; Keara Delaney/Cassidy Grady, W, def. Dani Hawthorne/McKenzie Cosgriff, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2; Melissa Pollard/Holly Hileman, W, def. Paula Fernandez/Issabella Martineau, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Polson 5, Columbia Falls 2

COLUMBIA FALLS — Columbia Falls split with Polson in singles play, but dropped all three doubles matches in a Northwestern A dual.

“Polson, for sure, has to be the team everyone is looking at,” Columbia Falls coach Gene Marcille said.

“They are well coached, playing well. They showed today they are the team to beat.”

Marcille was impressed with his No. 1 singles player. Emily Getts defeated Polson’s Marlee Congdon 6-2, 6-2.

“I’m excited about her play,” Marcille said.

“A divisional champ last year, she worked on her game all winter, took lessons. It’s nice to see that paying off. She’s looking good.”

Marcille thought her serving and presence on the court “was outstanding.She’s focused, handles herself well on the court. She is fun to watch.”

Columbia Falls, 0-2, plays the Missoula Sentinel JV today at the University of Montana courts at 11 a.m.

Singles — Emily Getts, CF, def. Marlee Congdon, 6-2, 6-2; Mollie Lemm, P, def. Hailey Sapa, 6-2, 6-2; Tessa Nunlist, P, def. Molly Schmit, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4; Harley Molchan, CF, def. Kyler Lundeen, 6-4, 5-7, 6-0.

Doubles — Taylor Rost/Shawna Lenz, P, def. Samantha Gilk/Samantha Mueller, 6-0, 6-1; Cassie Carlyle/Oliva Henston, P, def. Sydney Grilley/Morgan Stenger, 6-1, 6-1; Hunter Tamcke/Natalee Wheeler, P, def. Kaylee Flanigan/Emily Scallen, 6-1, 6-1.

Boys

Whitefish 5 Libby 2

WHITEFISH — Whitefish swept doubles action and added victories at Nos. 2-4 singles to down Libby in a Northwestern A dual.

“I am very proud of our guys,” Whitefish coach Chris Schwaderer said.

“Libby is a solid and well-coached team. We knew that they would be a tough matchup for us at a few different spots. There were three matches that went three sets and fortunately we were able to win two of them.”

Schwaderer was impressed with the effort turned in by Nathan Fauth at No. 2 singles. Fauth beat Cody Wood 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).

“He showed a lot mental toughness and his competitiveness set a great example for our younger kids,” Schwaderer said of his junior.

“I’m especially proud of his ability to rally back after losing the first set to win a third set tie-breaker.”

Schwaderer said the Bulldogs No. 3 doubles team — junior Austin Reese and freshman Eric Holdhusen — “also made a big statement by being scrappy and winning a close one in the third set.”

Whitefish plays at the Cut Bank Invitational today and Saturday.

Singles — Walter Briones, L, def. Max Smyley, 6-4, 6-3; Nathan Fauth, W, def. Cody Wood, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5); Jason Brant, L, def. Arsenije Gavric, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-3; Jack Brandt, W, def. Tucker Zimmerman, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles — Ryan Brown/Chaffin Ross, W, def. Jamaal Sykes/Kody Bailey, 6-1, 6-0; Ethan Potthoff/Thomas Carloss, W, def. Raymond Sadewasser/Rayson Arnold, 6-0,6-0; Austin Reese/Eric Holdhusen, W, def. Braydon Thom/Erik Lauer, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-4.

Polson 7, Columbia Falls 0

COLUMBIA FALLS — It was all Polson as the Pirates rolled to a Northwestern A dual win over Columbia Falls.

The most competitive match of the day was at No. 1 doubles with Polson’s Tim Russell and Cadis Chowning beating Brock Denny and Cooper Wendt 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

“Third set was very close,” Columbia Falls coach Gary Yee said.

“I hope they continue improving.

“It was the first time they have played together,” he added.

“They showed some potential.”

Columbia Falls plays Missoula Sentinel’s JV today at 11 a.m. at the University of Montana courts.

Polson is at the Cut Bank Invitational today and Saturday.

Singles — Quaid Harlan, P, def. Trevor Wick, 6-4, 6-1; Colin Kenney, P, def. Gabby DeLorme, 6-1, 6-0; Matt Sitter, P, def. Julian Street, 6-1, 6-2; Carson McDaniel, P, def. Garret Caffery, 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles — Tim Russell/Cadis Chowning, P, def. Brock Denny/Cooper Wendt, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Jaron Morgan/Kade Webster-Forman, P, def. Patrick Tillman/Quinn Ingraham, 6-2, 6-4; Scott Sicz/Josh Kinzle, P, def. Caleb Fleury/Braxton Shewalter, 6-1, 6-1.