Ark Valley News - Hornets host pair of tournaments

Megan Jones hits a backhand in a match at a home meet Sept. 15.

Hornets host pair of tournaments
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: September 20, 2018

With the regional tournament less than a month away, it has gotten hectic for the Valley Center High School tennis team. During the past week, the Hornets hosted two tournaments and played at Buhler and Goddard. Valley played Sept. 18 at Hesston but results were not available at deadline.

Valley's varsity tied for second in its tournament Sept. 17, rescheduled from Sept. 4 because of the weather. Salina South won with 18 points, outdistancing Valley Center and Eisenhower with 9 each, Maize 5 and Maize South 3.

At No. 1 singles, Mallory Feather lost to Jeannine Lopez (MZ) 8-4 before becoming ill and retiring. According to Schulz, Feather chose to rest as she was scheduled to play again Sept. 18.

At No. 2 singles, Megan Jones was first. She defeated Madelyn Wedman (MZ) 8-2 and Emma O'Keefe (EIS) 8-1, but lost 8-2 to Kaylee Warren (SS).

At No. 1 doubles, Kara Harden and Alexa Bedecarrate were second. They defeated Canupp/Davenport (MZ) 8-5, O'Brien/Sellens (MS) 8-2 and Bozarth/Reiswig (EIS) 8-1, but lost 8-1 to McAdoo/Zamecnik (SS).

At No. 2 doubles, Gabi Glidewell and Zoey Taylor were fourth. They lost 8-2 to Teter/Miller (MZ), defeated Crimi/Brown (MS) 8-6, lost 8-4 to Taylor/Graber (EIS) and 8-4 to Coleman/Nunemaker (SS).

"Megan played well until the last match where she struggled with the Salina South player but ended up first because of having the best winning percentage," coach Dean Schulz said. "Kara and Alexa played very well and are becoming very good partners. … Gabi and Zoey lost two close matches 4-8. They are playing better doubles; just need to finish close matches."

Valley's other home tournament this week was Sept. 15 where it finished third. Maize was first with 20 points, followed by Andover with 16, Valley Center 12, Wamego 7, Augusta 5 and Maize South 4.

At No. 1 singles, Megan Jones lost 8-3 to Emma Sinclair (AND), defeated Sydney Rich (MS) 8-5 and won by default over Wamego to finish fifth.

"Megan's pool all went 1-1, and that's how she ended up playing for fifth and sixth place," Schulz said.

At No. 2 singles, Sophia McNiel was third. She lost 8-2 to Sarah Sinclair (AND) and defeated Gracie Dean (MS) 8-1 and Madison Witt (MZ) 8-6. Schulz said she played "steady" all day.

At No. 1 doubles, Alex Barbour and Kassie Kinniburgh were second. They defeated Crumrine/Weers (AND) 8-3 and Lies/Molitor (MS) 8-1, but lost 8-5 to Camupp/Davenport (MZ).

At No. 2 doubles, Ali Schul and Lindsey Isham also finished second. They defeated Davis/Tantemsomboon (AND) 8-3 and Bradford/Hazlewood (MS) 8-3, before losing 8-3 to Miller/Teter (MZ).

"The doubles handled pool play but lost close matched to Maize in the finals," Schulz said. "They both thought they could have won but unforced errors did them in."

It was a good outing for the Hornets Sept. 13 at Buhler. With 16 team points, they were second behind the host Crusaders, who had 20. Following them were Salina Sacred Heart with 11 points, Salina South 10, Clay Center 5 and Maize South 2.

Valley came away with a first and third in singles and a second and third in doubles.

"I was pleased with the effort today and see much improvement from the beginning of the season," Schulz said.

At No. 1 singles, Jessica Sharp lost 8-3 to Lily Perrin (SSH) and defeated Madison Owings (MS) 8-0 and Iliana Armburst (SS) 8-2 to finish third.

"Jessica was a little under the weather and lost to a very good player from Sacred Heart but handled the other two matches with ease," Schulz said.

At No. 2 singles, Mallory Feather defeated Isabella Matteucci (SSH) 8-5, Laura Brucker (SS) 8-1 and Brittany Teufel (BU) 8-2 for first.

"Mallory, playing at the No. 2 singles spot, played very well and came home a champion," Schulz said.

At No. 1 doubles, Kara Harden and Alexa Bedecarrate defeated Adelaide Easter/Ellie Huang (SSH) 8-0 and Lizzy Franco/Kati Rivera (SS) 8-4 but lost 8-3 to Brylea Teufel/Payton DeMeyer to finish second.

"Kara and Alexa played very well," Schulz said. "Even in the final against Buhler their play did not match the final score."

At No. 2 doubles, Eris Bishop and Maddie Hamm lost 8-2 to Sadie Farris/Hannah Mertz (SS) but bounced back to defeat Megan Butts/Devin Sebastian (MS) 8-3 and Citlaly Campa/Marisol Banda (SSH) 8-1 for third.

"Eris and Maddie, playing in their first varsity match, were a little nervous in the first match but came back and handled business to finish third," Schulz said.

Valley took what Schulz described as a "mixed team" to Goddard Sept. 11 and finished last out of six teams. Maize was first with 19 points, followed by Wichita Collegiate with 16, Salina Central 14, Circle 6, Goddard 4 and Valley Center 3.

At No. 1 singles, Mallory Feather went 0-3. She lost 8-5 to Adams (CL), 8-0 to Williams (MZ) and 8-2 to Gary (GD).

At No. 2 singles, Sophia McNiel was 0-3. She lost 8-3 to Sorell (SC), 8-1 to Gentile (WC) and 8-2 to Chase (CL).

"Mallory and Sophia played well, although their scores don't show it," Schulz said.

At No. 1 doubles, Kara Harden and Alexa Bedecarrate were 1-2. They lost 8-0 to S. Lair/Conrad (WC), defeated Kelley/ McCune (CL) 8-0 and lost 8-7 (6) to Utech/Cutler (MZ).

At No. 2 doubles, Gabi Glidewell and Zoey Taylor also went 1-2. They lost 8-1 to Adams/Cunningham (MZ), lost 8-5 to Belson/Clements (CL) 5-8 and defeated Even/Heick (GD) 8-2.

"Doubles found some success," Schulz said. "We just start slow and have mental lapses in the middle of matches."

JV second at Maize — The Hornets did well Sept. 13 in the Maize round-robin doubles quad.

"We finished second as a team, with No. 2 and No. 4 doubles finishing with silver medals," coach Matt Klusener said. "This was a fun and unique tournament to play. The field was very tough with teams from Kapaun, which finished first, Maize and Maize South. To finish second overall was a great accomplishment for the Hornets."

At No. 1 doubles, Natalie Logan and Caroline Norman lost 8-1 to Maize and 8-0 to Kapaun, before defeating Maize South 8-2.

At No. 2 doubles, Lindsey Isham and Alyssa Bowlin defeated Maize 8-7 (4), lost to Kapaun 8-3 and beat Maize South 8-7 (3).

At No. 3 doubles, Grace Brabander and Amelia Farney beat Maize 8-4, lost 8-3 to Kapaun and lost 8-7 (6) to Maize South.

At No. 4 doubles, Aidaly Rascon and Yolanda Lara defeated Maize 8-3, lost 8-7 (4) to Kapaun and defeated Maize South 8-6.

The Hornets hosted a six-team novice event Sept. 11 and tied for third with Derby. Each of Valley's doubles teams picked up a medal by finishing third.

With 36 points each, Bishop Carroll edged Maize South for the top spot on a tiebreaker. Valley Center and Derby each had 18 points, followed by Newton with 8 and Douglass 4.

At No. 1 doubles, Yolanda Lara and Abby Bui lost 6-5 (3) to Maize South, defeated Douglass 6-3 and Newton 6-3.

At No. 2 doubles, Hailey McCartney and Alexandra Palmer lost 6-1 to Maize South, defeated Douglass 6-1 and rallied to edge Derby 6-4 for third.

At No. 1 singles, Aidaly Rascon lost 6-2 to Maize South, beat Douglass 6-2 and lost 6-4 to Derby to finish fourth.

At No. 2 singles, Jennifer Martinez lost 6-0 to Maize South and 6-4 to Douglass. She bounced back to edge Newton 6-4 for fifth.