Boys tennis goes 0-3 on the week

The Columbia Falls boys tennis team is playing competitive matches in the early season, but the wins are proving a bit elusive.

The Wildcats lost to Polson 6-1 on April 12 and to Hamilton 6-1 on April 14. They did better against Stevensville, losing 4-3.

Coach Gary Yee continues to juggle the lineups, particularly at doubles, where against Polson, Parker Johnson and Brian Marcille teamed up in doubles for the first time and got the victory in a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) marathon.

Miroslav Zvyagelskiy had a great match against Brady Hislop. Zvyagelskiy played well and appeared to have a frustrated Hislop rattled in the first set, but Hislop settled down and eked out the win in a match that went for more than 2 1/2 hours.

Yee then paired Johnson and Zvyagelskiy in doubles against Stevensville, and the two got a victory against one of the top doubles teams in the state.

Marcille, meanwhile, played singles and downed Stevi’s Dalton Belcourt in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

Yee said he’s pleased with the team’s progress.

“They’re improving their competitiveness every match,” he said. “You just hate to lose those third-set tiebreakers.”

But considering spring’s soggy start and the lack of outdoor practices up until a week ago, the boys are progressing.

“I’m pretty proud of these kids,” he said.

The team played Libby on Tuesday after presstime. They face Glacier High School on Thursday in Kalispell and Polson, Dillon and Mission away on Saturday.

Polson 6 C-Falls 1

Singles - Brady Hislop, P, def. Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; Dylan McCrumb, P, def. Andrew West, 6-2, 6-2; Hayden Congdon, P, def. Josh Potter, 6-1, 6-2; Reed Hovenkotter, P, def. Caleb Baumann, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles - Parker Johnson/Brian Marcille, CF, def. Will Davey/Ian Laimbeer, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8); Tommy Mercer/Sam Kinzle, P, def. Mason Gedlaman/Wyatt Wollenzien, 6-3, 6-4; Jared Gallatin/Jon Murphy, P, def. Bailey Griffith/Logan Carr, 6-2, 6-3.

Stevensville 4, C-Falls 3

Singles - James Enzler, S, def. Andrew West, 6-1, 6-0; Brian Marcille, CF, def. Dalton Belcourt, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); Tyler Pendergast, S, def. Josh Potter, 6-4, 6-2; Caleb Baumann, CF, def. Luke Kendall, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles - Parker Johnson/Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, CF, def. Garin McGrann/Josh Meier, 6-4, 6-3; Joseph Fecteau/Matt Goffe, S, def. Mason Gedlaman/Gavin Thelan, 7-5, 6-4; Corbin Disney/Lars Larson, S, def. Wyatt Wollenzien/Chris Wittkamp, 6-4, 6-1.

Hamilton 6, C-Falls 1

Singles - Ethan Sellig, H, def. Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, 6-4, 6-3; Kendall McDonald, H, def. Andrew West, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8); John Walker, H, def. Josh Potter, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; Nick Hudson, H, def. Caleb Baumann, 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles - Reese Isherwood/Craig Neese, H, def. Brian Marcille/Parker Johnson, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); Shawn Homyak/Aaron Need, H, def. Mason Gedlaman/Gavin Thelan, 6-1, 6-3; Chris Wittkamp/Wyatt Wollenzien, CF, def. Jeremy Hankel/Trevor Richards, 6-2, 6-0.