Viking tennis avenges early-season loss to Polson; Vals ace Polson, Hamilton

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork High School boys tennis team avenged an early season loss against Polson with a 4-3 win over the Pirates in Bigfork last week.

"They're improving," Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said of the Vikes. "Polson has a really strong team. As much as we like those wins, it all comes down to divisionals," Porrovecchio said. The divisional tournament is May 15-17 in Columbia Falls/Kalispell.

The Vikes also recorded a win against Hamilton, nearly sweeping the Broncs 6-1. Bigfork lost to Corvallis 5-2 in non-conference action.

Three Vikes won three matches during the week.

Tyler Butts and Scott Taylor teamed up for their victories. The duo topped Polson's Steven and Matt Roberts 6-4, 6-4 in Bigfork. Butts and Taylor won their second match, against Corvallis' Jake Sangster and Levi Pauley, with a tiebreaker. They won the first set 6-3 and the tiebreaker 7-2. The Vikes won a little easier in their final match against Hamilton. They topped Ben Endicott and Neil Sauer 6-1, 6-2.

Sean Barrett defeated his opponents single-handedly. The No. 3 singles player won his first match 7-6, 6-4 over Shad Giles of Polson. Barrett's second match, against Corvallis, went into a tiebreaker after he dropped the first set 6-4. He came back to win in the second set and tiebreaker 6-4, 7-4. Barrett topped Hamilton's Bob Huppert 6-3, 6-3.

"It was more experience," Porrovecchio said. "It's great to play teams out of conference."

Bigfork travels to Columbia Falls on May 3 to face the Wildcats at 11 a.m.

"We're confident in their abilities and happy with how they're coming along," Porrovecchio said.

Boys

Bigfork 4, Polson 3

SINGLES — Philip Myers, B, def. Karston Erickson, 6-2, 6-4; Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Tyler Engebretson, 6-1, 6-2; Sean Barret, B, def. Shad Giles, 7-6 6-4; Shawn Medland, P, def. Jordan Sabo, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2.

DOUBLES — Tyler Butts/Scott Tayler, B, def. Steven Roberts/Matt Roberts, 6-4, 6-4; Seth Hovenkotter/Stefen McCrumb, P, def. Seth Gordon/Cole Francisco, 6-0, 6-2; TJ Lipko/Kyle Cooper, P, def. Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Corvallis 5, Bigfork 2

Singles - Geoff Fehr, C def. Phillip Myers 6-3, 6-1; Spencer Fehr, C def. Bridger Mahlum 4-6, 6-1 (7-4); Sean Barret, B. def. Dillon Murray 4-6, 6-4 (7-4); Tyler Roberts, C def. Jordan Sabo 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.

Doubles - Tyler Butts/Scott Taylor, B def. Jake Sangster/Levi Pauley 6-3, 4-6 (7-2); Ben Kerner/Delane Jessop, C def. Seth Gorden/Cole Francisco 6-2, 6-1; Luke Allsop/David Spencer, C def. Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala 6-1, 6-1.

Bigfork 6, Hamilton 1

Singles a" Phillip Myers, B, def. Evan Hanson, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Jason Jessop, 6-0, 6-2; Sean Barrett, B, def. Bob Huppert, 6-3, 6-3; Jordan Sabo, B, def. Adam Willmarth, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles a" Scott Taylor/Tyler Butts, B, def. Ben Endicott/Neil Sauer, 6-1, 6-2; Josh Peterson/Tyler Beightel, H, def. Seth Gordon/Ryan Gembala, 6-4, 6-0; Cole Francisco/Evan Jondt, B, def. Cody Lewis/Justin Wallace, 6-1, 6-2.

One little stumbling block stood in the way of the Bigfork High School girls tennis team last week. That stumbling block was a strong Corvallis team, which topped the Vals 5-2 in non-conference action.

Bigfork defeated its other two opponents — Polson and Hamilton — by scores of 4-3 and 6-1, respectively.

Arianna Shults made a sweep during the week. She started with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Polson's Jenni Reilly and then went three sets with Jordynn Cheeney of Corvallis. She won both the second and third sets — 6-1, 10-6.

"I'm really happy with her development," Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said of Shults' progess on the courts. "She's making great strides and becoming a solid tennis player for us."

Shults and Lisa Kelecy beat Laura Cornelisse and Stella Quinlan 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Also notching more than one win were Quindee Averill and Roxy Thurman. The two won as a pair against Polson's Maddie Grebetz and Mattea York 6-4, 7-5. They also won as singles players against Hamilton.

Jade Bosic pushed her match against Hamilton's Kelsey Della Silva to three sets. Bosic won the first 6-3 before falling 6-7 (5) in the second. She won the third 6-1 for her second victory of the week.

Porrovecchio said he and the other coaches are happy with the team's wins, but are concentrating on the fast approaching divsional tournament.

"Conference matches count for seeding," he said. "We're ready for a little slow down." The Vals have just one meet this week in Columbia Falls on May 3. Porrovecchio said the team would use the down time to work on fundementals and drills.

Bigfork finishes its season with conference opponents Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Libby. Two of those meets are at home — Whitefish and Libby.

Girls

Bigfork 4, Polson 3

SINGLES — Kelly Deaton, B, def. Kayla Rochin, 6-4, 6-3; Jade Bosic, B, def. Sarah Keeble, 6-1, 6-3; Ariana Shults, B, def. Jenni Reilly, 6-2, 6-3; Kelsi Howell, P, def. Lisa Kelecy, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.

DOUBLES — Quindee Averill/Roxy Thurman, B, def. Maddie Grebetz/Mattea York, 6-4, 7-5; Cali Hislop/Malika Erickson, P, def. Nicolette Peterson/Jennifer Wirth, 6-2, 6-0; Cassie Ward/Kelsie Jones, P, def. Hanna Barrett/Cassie Lepper, 6-1, 6-2.

Corvallis 5, Bigfork 2

Singles - Megin Medruga, C def. Kelly Deaton 6-1, 6-4; Kayla Gingerich, C def. Jade Bosie 6-2, 6-1; Ariane Shults, B def. Jordynn Cheeney 2-6, 6-1, 10-6; Jessica Gerig, C def. Lisa Kelecy 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles - Kirstin Bull/Callie Ward, C def. Quindee Averill/Roxy Thurman 6-4, 7-6 (3), Nicolette Peterson/Jennifer Wirth, B def. Ali Bierer/Katie Kerner 6-0, 6-3; Anna Adolphson/LairenPhinney, C def. Hanna Barrett/Cassie Lepper 6-4, 6-2.

Bigfork 6, Hamilton 1

Singles aO" Quindee Averill, B, def. Katie Andre, 6-0, 6-1; Roxy Thurman, B, def. Rebecca Hankel, 6-1, 6-2; Kelly Deaton, B, def. Jenny Schreckendgust, 6-2, 6-0; Jade Bosic, B, def. Kelsey Della Silva, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1.

Doubles aO" Kelsey Jura/Alyssa Smith, H, def. Nicolette Peterson/Jen Wirth, 6-3, 6-4; Ariana Shultz/Lixa Kelcy, B, def. Laura Cornelisse/Stella Quinlan, 7-6(3), 6-3; Hannah Barett/Cassie Lepper, B, def. Eden Hanra/Alycia Burt, 6-2, 6-2.