Netters vie for berths at state tournament

The girls still aren't winning many matches, but they have improved as the tennis season winds down for Columbia Falls.

The Kats' best hope for a state tournament berth lies in Sarah Marcille, who split the bill last week, beating Sara Keeble of Polson on a cold, windy and sometimes snowy day last Thursday. Marcille, however, couldn't get past Libby's Jackie Mee on Saturday, losing in two sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Marcille will be the top prospect for the Kats in this weekend's divisional tourney at FVCC in Kalispell.

Coach Jerry Smalley noted the team's overall improvement, even if it didn't translate into Ws.

"The team's match score doesn't show it, but our girls won 20 more games than the first time we played Libby," he said.

On the boys side, the best shot at a state berth comes from the doubles team of Grant Getts and Cody Maynard. Maynard is a senior and Getts is a junior. They beat Polson's Shad Giles and Steffan McCrumb, 6-2, 6-3 at home last Thursday.

The divisional tourney is at the Flathead Valley Community College courts starting today (May 15) and running through Saturday. The top four placers get a state berth.

Boys Coach Gary Yee has been pleased with his team's progress. Grant Getts and Cody Maynard played singles over the weekend, but will play doubles at divisionals. They've been getting some practice in on hard courts this week. Getts and Maynard are the team's best shot at a state tourney berth.

The boys got their first win of the season over Libby, beating them 5-2.

Getts, Maynard and Jake Ronish all got wins as did Billy Garcia and Scott Hopkins an Weston Bartkoski and Chen Gao in doubles.

The weather promises to be fantastic for tennis, with highs in the 70s and 80s expected.

GIRLS

Eureka 6, Columbia Falls 1

Singles — Sarah Marcille, CF, def. Casey Armstrong, 6-3, 6-0; Martina Quade, E, def. Lydia Freeman, 6-0, 6-0; Briann Linnell, E, def. Sara Lueken, 6-2, 6-1; Ashley Gullo, E, def. Aysia Potter, 6-3, 6-0.

Doubles — Tayler Holder/Marni Zauner, E, def. Shelby Hobbs/Pepper Borland, 6-0, 6-1; Megan Koshatka/Sasha Trudeau, E, def. Franki Anderson/Stephanie Raymond, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2; Cami Stacy/Karina Hofstee, E, def. Lexie Bartkoski/Marissa Getts, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Polson 6, Columbia Falls, 1

Singles — Sarah Marcille, CF, def. Sara Keeble, 6-1, 6-0; Kelsie Jones, P, def. Lydia Freeman, CF., 6-2, 6-1; Jane Probst, P, def. Lexie Bartkoski, 6-0, 6-0; Kelsie Howell, P, def. Marissa Getts, CF, 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles — Maddie Grebetz/Mattea York, P, def. Shelby Hobbs, Laura Burgi, 6-1, 6-1; Malika Erickson/Cali Hislop, P, def. Steph Raymond/Franki Anderson, 6-1, 6-0; Kayla Rochin/Cassie Ward, P, def. Sara Lueken/Cassandra Sago, 6-1, 6-0.

Libby 6, Columbia Falls, 1

Singles — Jackie Mee, L, def. Sarah Marcille, 6-3, 6-2; Varonkia Cislo, L, def. Lydia Freeman, 6-0, 6-0; Audra Poppen, L, def. Lexie Bartkoski, 6-4, 7-5; Marissa Getts, CF, def. Ashley Shaw, 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles — Nichole Newman/Riley Dinning, L, def. Shelby Hobbs/Laura Burgi, 7-5, 6-1; Marqeaux Zwang/ Anna Valentine, L, def. Franki Anderson/Steph Raymond, 6-4, 6-3; Katie Horelick/Lindsey Kehn, L, def. Sara Lueken/Aysia Potter, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

BOYS

Polson 4, Columbia Falls 3

Singles — Karston Erickson, P, def. Jake Ronish, 6-0, 6-3; Tyler Engebretson, P, def. Eric Schaeffer, 6-1, 6-4; Joel Ballard, CF, def. Shawn Medland, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5; Weston Bartkoski, CF, def. Jonah Barta, 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3).

Doubles — Grant Getts/Cody Maynard, CF, def. Shad Giles/Steffan McCrumb, 6-2, 6-3; Steven Roberts/Matt Roberts, P, def. Scott Hawkins/Billy Garcia, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5; Kyle Cooper/Seth Hovenkotter, P, def. Tim Spencer/Vadin Zvyagelskiy, 6-1, 7-5.

Columbia Falls, 5, Libby 2

Singles — Grant Getts, CF. def. Steven Hauck, 6-2, 6-0; Jake Ronish, Cf. def., Hunter Sheffield, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5; Cody Maynard, CF def. Chris Schnackenberg, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2; Evan May, L. def. Jon Riffey, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles — Billy Garcia/Scott Hopkins, CF., def. Cree and Cyrus Malonie, 6-0, 6-1; Weston Bartkoski/Chen Go, CF., def. Levi Myslicki/Jesse Ramos, 6-4. 0-6, 7-5; Nate Broden/Cody Ercanbrack, L. def. Tim Spencer/Vadim Zvygelskiy, 1-6, 6-4, 5-7.