Tennis squads drop two to tough Libby team

The Columbia Falls girls and boys tennis teams both lost to Libby last week in their first matches of the season, but even in the losses, there were some bright performances.

"We played tentative," said girls' coach Jerry Smalley. "But that's pretty normal for the first match of the season."

Tamara Kolatschek had the lone win for the girls, dropping Tawyna Granger 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).

Smalley said he saw some good things out of other players as well, even though their scores didn't quite hold up.

"Natalie (Law) had some good shots playing against the Class A defending state champion Jackie Mee and Elena Potter started figuring out tennis in her first match ever. Gabrielle Stenger also played stronger later in her match," he said.

On the boys' side, the scores were closer. Coach Gary Yee said he was impressed with Nick Emerson taking his match into three sets and for Chris King to win was also nice. Miroslav Zvegelskiy beat Crowford Dinning in three sets 7-6 (7-1), 5-7, 6-2.

Neither King or Emerson has played tennis before.

"I was pretty pleased," Yee said. "Libby is pretty tough this year."

Yee said the lineup is far from set in stone. He'll move players around as the season progresses, though the doubles team Jordan Meueller and Andrew West looked good in their win.

"There was great team chemistry between them," he said.

Both teams face Polson at home today (Thursday) starting at 3 p.m. and then travel to the Bitterroot this weekend for a tournament.

The girls' meet against Eureka was snowed out last week. It has been rescheduled for 3 p.m. April 20 in Columbia Falls.