Tennis squads improving, but so is everyone else

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia High School boys tennis team is still learning, albeit the hard way. In just its second year, the program is slowly improving, even though many of the players had never played the sport before last season.

Against the Bigfork High School Vikings on Thursday, the Wildcats won only one match and came away winless against the Polson High School Pirates Friday afternoon. Monday, they lost a close one to Bigfork once again, dropping the matches 4-3. Although their season trudged along with these three losses, coach Jerry Smalley was encouraged by the team's play.

"We're definitely playing better tennis as we continue to challenge teams with more experience," he said.

Sophomore Jeremy Loween was the only victorious Wildcat against the Vikings, defeating Tyler Butts in No. 4 singles 7-5, 6-0.

Despite the winless matches against Polson, Smalley said the team is constantly learning, mentioning the steps made by the doubles pair of senior Devon Hagen and junior Chuck Sneddon-as well as the improved singles play of junior Josh Kaplan.

"The score may not show it, but the boys are playing better tennis-forcing more games to deuce," he said. "Devon and Chuck especially are hitting the ball with more authority. Josh Kaplan also played some strong points."

Against Bigfork on Monday, junior Clayton Johnson won the No. 3 singles by forfeit, and freshman Casey Hebert won the No. 4 singles 6-1, 6-2 against Tyler Butz. The No. 3 doubles pair of senior Paul Webb and junior Shawn MacNorious won their match by forfeit as well.

Smalley said that although he lost, senior Frederick Von Schweinitz played great tennis, dropping his match 4-6, 3-6 against Lane Averill.

"Despite the score, Frederick played a strong match against a quality opponent."

The girls team fared little better than the boys in the matches, defeating Bigfork 4-3 then losing a sluggish 5-2 match to Polson and a close 4-3 to Bigfork in a reversal of Thursday's score.

Smalley said the win against the Vikings was a positive, although the girls played uninspired tennis at times.

"It was great to win, but some of our girls played like they just got off a band bus at 2:30 a.m.," Smalley said.

Freshman Sarah Marcille defeated Beth Bermel in No. 3 singles 6-4, 6-4 and junior Lisa Carter triumphed in No. 4 singles 6-3, 6-3. Junior Emily Emmert continued her strong play, defeating Rebecca Buffington in No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-2.

In No. 3 doubles, juniors Rosemary Dalimata and Chelsea Smith defeated Joanna Tegoli and Cassie Keller 6-3, 6-0 for the team's only doubles win.

Against Polson, a team the Kats had defeated 5-2 just weeks earlier, Smalley said the girls came out flat.

"The first time we played Polson, we won 5-2," he said. "This time the score is reversed.

"Definitely not one of our better outings," he added. "Maybe too much prom."

Emmert won No. 2 singles again, defeating Elise Bennett in a hard-fought match 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (6-4), 6-2.

In No. 2 doubles, seniors Crystal Nieves and Nikki Freebury won 6-0, 6-2.

Smalley was not happy with the team's performance, but he praised Emmert for her efforts, saying that fighting through the tie breakers showed poise.

"Emily showed some real character by battling back," he said. "But some of our girls lost their focus-losing to players they defeated two weeks ago."

In the second game against Bigfork, Carter again won the No. 4 singles with an impressive 6-0, 6-0 victory. Kate and Sarah Marcille won the No. 2 doubles 6-1, 6-1, and juniors Donna Burns and Danielle Fagre won the No. 3 doubles 6-0, 6-1.

Smalley said the loss could be partially attributed to the adjustments in the lineup.

"Sometimes we have to give up our strongest dual match lineup to experiment with kids in different positions," he said.

The girls were back in action at home on Tuesday afternoon against Eureka, playing evenly with them before several matches were rained out.

Emmert lost in No. 1 singles 6-7 (3-6), 2-6 and Nieves lost No. 2 singles 2-6, 2-6. The other singles matches were cancelled because of the weather.

In doubles, Kate and Sarah Marcille won the No. 1 match in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Burns and Fagre won the No. 2 doubles 6-1, 6-0 and the No. 3 match was also postponed due to the rain.

No make up date has been set.