Ahlborn takes silver at Loyola Invite
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MISSOULA — The Mission tennis team was able to fit in a lot of tennis last week to get them ready for a postseason run.
The Lady Bulldogs didn’t look too sharp in their final tuneups before the Western B/C Divisionals in Bigfork this weekend. After falling to Valley Christian 4-2, only the doubles team of Sarah Bowers and Becky Hiatt were able to pick up a win at the Best of the West Tournament at the University of Montana.
The Bulldogs recovered from a 5-1 loss to Valley Christian by trouncing Troy 5-1 and then wrapped up the week at the Loyola Invitational Saturday, where Spencer Ahlborn finished in second place and Wesley Knowlan finished in third.
Ahlborn, Mission’s number one singles player, entered the tournament with a 2-0 record during the week. The senior was the only Bulldog to pick up a win against Valley Christian, defeating Shane Kauffman 6-0, 6-1. Ahlborn also defeated Troy’s Jake Higgins 6-1, 6-2.
Ahlborn continued to cruise Saturday, shutting out Conrad’s Devin Vandenbos 10-0 and then handling Loyola’s Jonathon Finch 10-3 to advance to the finals against Loyola’s Cade Cross. Mission coach Kimimi Ashley said that Cross came to the match prepared with a good game plan and a good serve and defeated Ahlborn 10-6. Ahlborn also helped Cross’ cause with too many unforced errors. Luckily, Ahlborn will get to play him again.
“Spencer will have another chance to play him and if he will concentrate on opening up Cade’s weaknesses and going for more aggressive shots on his part, he should be able to beat him,” Ashley said.
Cross also defeated Knowlen Saturday to send Mission’s number two singles player, to the third/fourth-place match, where he took care of Finch 10-3. Knowlen started the tournament with a 10-8 win over Conrad’s Calen King.
Bass Labaise-Ard, Mission’s number three singles player, joined Ahlborn and Knowlen in the championship bracket. Labaise-Ard beat Valley Christian’s Christopher Manuel 10-5 and Conrad’s Pruttis 10-1, before falling to Valley Christian’s Glidewell 10-6. In his match against Pruttis, Labaise-Ard fell and twisted his ankle, but after putting a little ice on it, he was back on the court.
“He is a great player to have around because he is very determined and competitive. He wants to be out there and does his best everytime. He is coming on strong just when it is needed for the end of the year tournament,” Ashley said, adding that this wasn’t the first time Labaise-Ard has stepped up for the Bulldogs. He came through for them in their 4-2 win over Cutbank. She said that Labaise-Ard playing in top form will be a big asset at the state tournament.
After losing two close matches to start the tournament, Mission’s number four singles player Brian Schock defeated Valley Christian’s Manuel 10-6 in the fifth/sixth place match.
Mission’s top doubles team had trouble at the tournament. The number one team of Trail Bundy and Nikko Alexander only win was against the Bulldog’s number two team of Kyle Schock and Xavier Streets.
The number three team of freshmen Paden Alexander and Chris Camel went 2-1 at the tournament to finish third in their bracket.
“It was nice to see these two young players do so well. Paden is on the state team as an alternate this year and Chris has improved a lot since the beginning of the year,” Ashley said. “These two will have big impacts in the future years of Bulldog tennis.”
Bowers and Hiatt defeated Darby’s Courage Louviere and Brianna Massey 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 for the Lady Bulldogs’ lone win at the Best of the West tournament. The two were eliminated from the tournament with a two-set loss to Superior’s Catie Goodpasture and Myranda Kuhl.
Bowers and Hiatt also picked up a win in Mission’s 4-2 loss to Valley Christian Thursday, beating Heidi Cross and Tessa Pearson 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Ashley said that these close matches, where they let their opponent back in the match will help the two in the postseason.
“They can draw upon that knowledge of what they are capable of when it gets tough at divisionals. Also it shows them that they can’t have those little mental lapses. You need to be on and focused for the entire match,” Ashley said.
Mission’s number one singles player Jane Makepeace defeated Lady Eagle Hollyn Wittmier 6-4, 6-2 for Mission’s other win against Valley Christian. She lost to Lady Bobcat Cary Chamberlain in two sets Saturday.
“Jane Makepeace has been doing good at ending more of her points at the net. She has some nice strokes when she is in a rhythm and is seeing that when she gets herself set up she needs to end the point,” Ashley said.
Despite going 1-5 at the tournament, Ashley said it gave them a chance to see how competitive the other teams are going to be at state.
The Lady Bulldogs will travel to Bigfork for the divisional tournament Friday and Saturday. Matches start at 10 a.m. each day. It is a double elimination tournament with six singles players and four doubles team advancing to the state tournament.
Summary
Boys
Valley Christian 5, Mission 1
Singles - Spencer Ahlborn, M, def. Shane Kauffman, 6-0, 6-1; Josiah Petersen, VC, def. Bass Labaise-Ard, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), Geoffrey Glidewell, VC, def. Brian Schock, 6-2, 6-2; Chris Manuel, VC, def. Xavier Streets, 6-1, 6-4.
Doubles - Jordan Potter/Matthew Bohlken, VC, def. Kyle Schock/Trail Bundy, 6-2, 6-4; Donnie Nurse/Jordan Kauffman, VC, def. Nikko Alexander/Paden Alexander, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (9-7).
Misson 5, Troy 1
Singles - Spencer Ahlborn, M, def. Jake Higgins, 6-1, 6-2; Wesley Knowlan, M, def. Creede Garci, 7-5, 6-2; Bass LaBaisa-Ard, M, def. Pat Hickman, 6-3, 6-2; Jeff Rebo, T, def. Brian Schock, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (9-7).
Doubles - K.Schock/X.Streets, M, def. D.Winslow/C.Orr 6-3, 6-4; T.Bundy/N.Alexander, def. A. Haggerty/S.Swimley, 6-0, 6-0.
Singles - #1 Spencer Ahlborn, M, def. Devin VandenBos, C 10-0; Ahlborn, M, def. Jonaton Finch, L, 10-3; Championship Final -Cade Cross, L, def. Ahlborn, 10-6.
#2 Wesley Knowlan, M, def. Calen King, C, 10-8; Cade Cross, L, def. Knowlan, 10-8; Knowlan def. Jonathon Finch, L, 10-3.
#3 - Bass LaBaisa-Ard M, def. Christopher Manuel, VC, 10-5; LaBaisa-Ard, def. Pruttis, C, 10-1; Championship Finals- Glidewell, VC, def. LaBaisa-Ard, 10-8.
#4 - Maelan Arciello, L, def. Brian Schock, M, 10-9 (8-6); Brian Schock def. Conrad 4 10-7; 5th place - Schock, def. Manuel, VC, 10-6.
Doubles - #1 - Paul Heffernan/Tobin Blome, L, def. Trail Bundy/Nikko Alexander, M, 10-6; Conrad def. Bundy/Alexander; Bundy/Alexander, M, def. Schock/Streets, 0, 10-6.
#2 - Michael Tarbert/Josh Gilligan, L, def. Xavier Streets/Kyle Schock, M, 10-1; Valley Christian def. Streets/Schock; Bundy/Alexander, M, def. Streets/Schock 10-6.
Girls
Valley Christian 4, Mission 2
Singles - Jane Makepeace, M, def. Hollyn Wittmier, 6-4, 6-2; Sarah Larson, VC, def. Rachel Jensen, 6-1, 6-2; Adrienne Newton, VC, def. Jenny Dillard, 6-4, 6-2; Jodie Satterlee, VC, def. Morgan Andres, 7-5, 6-4.
Doubles - Sarah Bowers/Becky Hiatt, M, def. Heidi Cross/Tessa Pearson, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3); Sarah King/Skyla Mollenhoff, VC, def. Alex Gunnee/Katie Hvorest, 6-0, 6-2.
Best of the West
University of Montana
May 9, 2010
Singles - Cary Chamberlain, S, def. Jane Makepeace, 6-3, 6-2; Delta Sjostrom, T, def. Rachel Jensen, 6-3, 6-2; Mercedes Meier, T, def. Jenny Dillard, 6-2, 6-2; Megan Fetters, C, def. Morgan Anders, 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles - Sarah Bowers/Becky Hiatt, def. Courage Louviere/Brianna Massey, D, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8; Goodpasture/Kuhl, S, def. Bowers, Hiatt, 7-6(3), 6-4
#2 - Rachel Lamb/Courtney Anderson, C, def. Alex Guinness/Katie Hvorest, M, 6-2, 6-3.
