Young Bulldog tennis team shows early promise
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ST. IGNATIUS – Though this year’s boys’ tennis team is without state singles champion Spencer Ahlborn, head boys’ coach Kimimi Ashley feels good about where her young team stands.
“Right now, I feel that we are still in the learning curve of the season … (but) the boys have performed as is normal for where they are at in their learning curve.” Ashley said. “The team as a whole needs to work on being competitive out on the court.”
The Bulldogs return three varsity players while featuring several new faces including junior varsity players from last year.
Chris Camel and Troy Bontrager played junior varsity the past two years and have moved up to singles play.
“They both have improved on their ground strokes and once they become more consistent they should be bringing in some wins,” Ashley predicted.
Doubles is currently being played by newcomer foreign exchange student ZeeShaun Ali and RJ Blood, a junior varsity player from last year. Ashley said Ali and Blood have improved in a short amount of time despite the fact this is the first time Ali has played tennis.
“Hopefully this will come with experience in playing and getting the confidence with putting their shots together,” Ashley said.
The St. Ignatius boys’ and girls’ tennis teams started the Class B-C high school season with a split against the Valley Christian Eagles on March 24. On March 29 the Mission Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs went 6-1, falling to the Loyola Sacred Heart tennis teams.
In the boys’ dual, the Valley Christian Eagles defeated St. Ignatius with a 4-2 win. Mission’s Karl Daniels pulled out the team’s only singles win by defeating Valley Christian’s Christopher Manuel 6-4, 6-4. Valley Christian went 3-1 in singles, with Lane Norberg, Levi Bullock and Cameron Morton posting straight-set victories. Norberg defeated Katz Yelsa; Bullock won over Felix Fonntag; and Morton took out Harry Suta. In doubles, the duo of Troy Bontrager and Chris Camel defeated Sam Larson and Keldy Grussling 6-3, 6-1.
The Lady Bulldog squad had no problem rolling past its opponent with a perfect 6-0 win over the Eagles.
Mission’s Sarah Bowers handed Valley Christian’s Kaileigh Moser a 6-0, 6-2 loss, as did Jane Makepeace defeating Hannah Kauffman 6-1, 6-2. Also picking up wins were Cierra Dougherty and Kayla Billette. In doubles, the two teams of Briar Ahlborn and Randi Butterfly and Alexis Paul and Laura Eggeling won by forfeit.
Against Loyola, Daniels picked up the team’s only win with a 6-5 defeat of Matt Roberts and Bowers led her team with a 6-3 victory over the Breakers’ Kelly Eppard.
“Hopefully this will come with experience in playing and getting the confidence with putting their shots together,” Ashley said.
The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs took on Ronan April 3.
SUMMARY
BOYS
Valley Christian 4, St. Ignatius 2
Singles – Karl Daniels, S, def. Christopher Manuel, 6-4, 6-4; Lane Norberg, V, def. Katz Yelsa, 6-1, 6-3; Levi Bullock, V, def. Felix Fonntag, 7-6, 6-2; Cameron Morton, V, Harry Suta, 6-1, 7-5.
Doubles – Dylan Dybdal/Adam Richards, V, def. R.J. Blood/Zeeshan Aly, 6-0, 6-2; Troy Bontrager/Chris Camel, S, def. Sam Larson/Keldy Grussling, 6-3, 6-1.
GIRLS
St. Ignatius 6, Valley 0
Singles – Sarah Bowers, S, def. Kaileigh Moser, 6-0, 6-2; Jane Makepeace, S, def. Hannah Kauffman, 6-1, 6-2; Cierra Dougherty, S, def. Alicia Wiley, 6-3, 6-2; Kayla Billette, S, def. Ashlyn Schautz, 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles – Briar Ahlborn/Randi Butterfly, S, won by forfeit; Alexis Paul/Laura Eggeling, S, won by forfeit.
BOYS
Loyola Sacred Heart 6, St. Ignatius 1
Singles - Karl Daniels, SI, def. Matt Roberts, 6-4, 7-5; Kalen Christiaens, LSH, def. Felix Sonntag, 6-4, 6-2; Nels Gamaas, LSH, def. Chris Camel, 6-2, 6-1; Chris Nagata, LSH, def. Troy Bontrager, 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles - Josh Gilligan/Teddy Muth, LSH, def. Harry Suta/Kate Yelsa, 6-0, 6-1; Turner Hruby/Alex Menedez, LSH, def. Zee Shawn Ali/RJ Blood, 6-1, 6-4; Zack Burke/Connor Campbell, LSH, def. RJ Blood/Troy Bontrager, 6-4, 6-2.
GIRLS
Loyola Sacred Heart 6, St. Ignatius 1
Singles - Sarah Bowers, SI, def. Kelly Eppard, 6-3, 6-3; Jocelyn Caldwell, LSH, def. Jane Makepeace, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4; Erin Flint, LSH, def. Cierra Dougherty, 6-3, 2-6, 11-9; Olivia Round, LSH, def. Blair Ahlborn, 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles - Callan Haggarty/Allison Sawyer, LSH, def. Kayla Billette/Randi Butterfly, 6-0, 6-0; Angela Holter/Emily McCue, LSH, def. Alexis Paul/Laura Eggeling, 6-1, 6-1; Shannon Eppard/Megan McCue, LSH, def. Alexis Paul/Cecelia Koskela, 10-4.
