Vals drop two before divisionals

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

Despite losing to Polson and Whitefish May 12 at home, the Bigfork girls’ tennis team is moving full speed ahead into the Northwest A Divisionals.

The Vals lost 6-1 and 5-2 to the Lady Pirates and Lady Bulldogs, respectively in the dual.

“Polson and Whitefish are two of the better teams in the conference,” Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said. “Their players are seasoned and well coached.”

Linda Xin was the lone winner for the Vals against Polson. She defeated Lexi Cline 6-2, 6-0. She also won her match against Whitefish’s Mariah Driscoll. That match went longer, going to three sets. Xin dropped the first set 2-6, but came back 6-3 and 7-5 in the final sets to continue her undefeated streak.

Breanna Hughes and Ariana Shults lost close matched to the Lady Pirates Saturday. Hughes fell 7-5, 6-3 against Emily Pyles, while Shults’ match went to three sets. She won the first set 6-4, but lost the final two, including a tiebreaker — 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

Bigfork’s No. 1 doubles team of Roxy Thurman and Quindee Averill also notched a win on the weekend. The pair topped the Bulldogs’ Kate Whitaker and Kimberly McIntyre in two sets 6-3, 6-1.

“Roxy and Quindee lost last time (to Whitefish), but they battled through that. The girls put on a good showing,” Porrovecchio said. “Going into the weekend, we knew this would be a good learning experience.”

Thurman and Averill lost their match to Polson’s Malika Erickson and Cali Hislop in two sets. The Val faught back after dropping the first set 6-2 and forced a tiebreaker in the second set. The Pirates got the best of the Vals, though, and won 7-6 (7-5).

Kelly Deaton and Jade Bosic narrowly missed sending their two matches into three sets. The duo fell just short in the tiebreakers of both their first sets, giving them a slight advantage early. Deaton and Bosic lost their first set against the Pirates’ Mattea York and Kelsie Delaney 7-6 (7-3) before losing the second 6-0. They fell to Michelle Maddock and McCara Cullen in their first set as well, 7-6 (7-5). The Vals lost the second set 6-2.

“We’re working a lot better together,” Deaton, a freshman, said of her and her partner Bosic, who is also a freshman. “We’re really excited to do better (at divisionals). It’s a new thing, so it’s always exciting.”

The Vals start divisional play Thursday in Kalispell at the Flathead Valley Community College courts and The Summit. Start times and schedule were not available as of press time.

“We’re going to continue what we do,” Porrovecchio said. “Our kids have as good of a shake as anyone.”

Girls

Polson 6, Bigfork 1

Singles — Emily Pyles, P, def. Brianna Hughes, 7-5, 6-3; Linda Xin, B, def. Lexi Cline, 6-2, 6-0; Erika Mole, P, def. Ariana Shults, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4); Steph Bertsch, P, def. Lisa Kelecy, 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles — Malika Erickson/Cali Hislop, P, def. Roxy Thurman/Quindee Averill, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), Mattea York/Kelsie Delaney, P, def. Jade Bosic/Kelly Deaton, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0; Anjuli Campbell/Cassie Ward, P, def. Cassie Keller/Nicolette Peterson, 6-4, 6-0.

Whitefish 5, Bigfork 2

Singles — Brielle Menegazzi, W, def. Brianna Hughes, 6-1, 6-1; Linda Xin, B, def. Mariah Driscoll, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5; Ellie Opel, W, def. Nicolette Peterson, 6-3, 7-5; Sarah Vail, W, won by forfeit.

Double — Roxy Thurman/Quindee Averill, B, def. Kate Whitaker/Kimberly McIntyre, 6-3, 6-1; Michelle Maddock/McCara Cullen, W, def. Kelly Deaton/Jade Bosic, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2; Kelsey McCluskey/Kate Klundt, W, def. Lisa Kelecy/Ariana Shults, 6-2, 6-1.