TENNIS: Northern AA divisional begins today at FVCC
The Glacier boys put a five-year title streak on the line as action gets underway in the Northern AA divisional tennis tournament at Flathead Valley Community College.
Boys and girls from Glacier, Flathead, Great Falls High and Great Falls C.M. Russell will battle for state title berths over the two-day tournament, with the first ball set to be served today at 10 a.m.
The Wolfpack won the Western AA divisional title a year ago in a quirk of the Montana High School Association’s divisional alignments in tennis. Glacier had won the previous four (2011-14) Northern AA divisional titles and, after an undefeated 10-0-1 regular season, will be favored to claim another Northern divisional championship this time around.
Glacier is led by senior Spencer Johnson, who last week broke the school’s career wins record and now has 71 in his career. Johnson finished third at the Western AA divisional last year, qualifying for the state tournament, and is 13-2 so far this season.
The top four singles players and top four doubles teams, for both boys and girls, will advance to the state tournament, May 19-20 in Great Falls.
Johnson isn’t the Wolfpack’s only returning state qualifier. Holland Blalack made the state tournament in doubles a season ago and will try and advance through the singles draw this time around. Blalack went 9-0 as a singles player during the regular season.
Glacier’s other two singles entries, Graham Friedman and Ryker McIntyre, also had impressive regular seasons and will be looking for their first top-four divisional finishes. The duo is a combined 19-5 this year.
On the girls side, Glacier’s top doubles team of Jazmyn Austin and Megan Denna figures to be in the running for the title. The pairing was 15-3 during the regular season. In singles, Shelby Odell, McKenna Tinseth and Tessa Howe will both be battling for their first state title trips.
The girls provide Flathead’s best chances at sending a player or two to the state tournament. The Bravettes boast Kalispell’s other returning state qualifier in Ellie Berreth. She finished third in the divisional last year and will be aiming for a repeat performance. Rayna Darrow has also put together a fine season on the court and should be a factor in the singles draw.
There are 80 matches scheduled for play today, with action resuming Friday at 9 a.m. The singles finals are tentatively scheduled for noon on Friday, with the doubles finals to follow, although times may be changed based on earlier action.