Lady Dogs stay perfect through opening week
Olivia Potthoff returns a serve, while her doubles partner Aubrey Hanks looks on, during a win over Columbia Falls Thursday at Flathead Valley Community College. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Claire Carloss competes during a win over Columbia Falls Thursday at Flathead Valley Community College. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
The Lady Dogs are off to a hot season start, with four wins and no losses after a week of competition.
Whitefish notched wins over Ronan, Columbia Falls, Polson and Dillon last week.
On Thursday the team rolled over Columbia Falls, just missing a sweep of the Wildkats.
Whitefish won 6-1 in the match.
Gracie Smyley, Claire Carloss and Jesse Grawonder posted easy wins at Nos. 1-2-3 singles, while all three doubles teams notched wins as well.
Smyley won by forfeit while Carloss defeated Columbia Falls’ Cassidy Norick 6-1, 6-0.
The top doubles pair of Olivia Pothoff and Aubrey Hanks took down Taylor Jarrett and Anna Pickard 6-1, 6-0 as well.
Over the weekend the Lady Dogs managed a pair of easy wins against Dillon and Ronan.
The team swept Dillon 7-0 and won at the singles No. 1-3 and doubles No. 1-2 spots.
Polson gave the team some trouble, head coach Patrick Dryden said, but he was impressed with how his girls responded.
In the case of the team’s new No. 1 singles player, Smyley, he said she put on a show.
Smyley defeated Polson’s Shea McGuinnes 6-1, 6-0.
“Gracie beat the defending state champ quite soundly,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised that she won, but the margin of victory was a little surprising.”
Dryden said his No. 2 doubles team of Payton Kastella and Abigail Shaffer also showed a lot of early season promise last week.
“They’re just getting better every match but they really picked it up a notch against Polson and took down a very solid team in straight sets,” he said.
This week the team faced off against Libby on Tuesday after press time. This weekend they’ll head to the Cut Bank Invitational to see how they fare against the top competition.
Dryden said he’s looking forward to seeing teams from the east that Whitefish doesn’t see very frequently. It’s also a chance to see how his squad stacks up against top teams like Hardin.
“I’m really excited to be playing Hardin,” he said. “They have a solid program, I’d say they’re one of the best in the state, so it’ll be nice to match up with them, especially at the No. 1 doubles spot. They’ve got a team that was in the state championship last year, so Olivia and Aubrey are looking forward to that matchup.”
Whitefish 6, Columbia Falls 1
SINGLES — Gracie Smyley, W, won by forfeit; Claire Carloss, W, def. Cassidy Norick, 6-1, 6-0; Jesse Grawonder, W, def. Katy Garate, 6-1, 6-1; Gwen Foust, CF, def. Lauren Brown, 6-4, 6-1.
DOUBLES — Olivia Potthoff/Aubrey Hanks, W, def. Taylor Jarrett/Anna Pickard, 6-1, 6-0; Payton Kastella/Abigail Shaffer, W, def. Maria Vizcay/Grace Gedlaman, 6-1, 6-3; Ali Hirsch/Mia Mendoza, W, def. Emma Upton/Martina Heupel, 6-1, 6-3.
Whitefish 7, Dillon 0
SINGLES — 1, Gracie Smyley, W, def. Ashlyn Sandoll 6-4, 6-0; 2, Claire Carloss, W, def. Nicole Fluckinger, 6-1, 6-0; 3, Jesse Grawunder, W, def. Bella Glossa 6-0, 6-1; 4, Lauren Brown, W, def. Ruby Pierce 6-1, 6-2.
DOUBLES — 1, Olivia Potthoff/Aubrey Hanks, W, def. Ashlyn Sandoll/Nicole Fluckinger, W 6-2, 6-0; 2, Payton Kastella/Abigail Shaffer, W, def. Bella Glossa/Ruby Pierce 6-0, 6-0; 3, Mia Mendoza/Ana Elm, W, def. Alanah Rose/Edelia Flores-Segalia 6-2, 7-5.
Whitefish 5, Polson 2
SINGLES — Gracie Smyley, W, def. Shea McGuinness, 6-1, 6-0; Claire Carloss, W, def. Berkley Ellis, 4-66-4, 10-6; Jesse Grawunder, W, def. Taylor Bloomfield, 4-6, 6-4, 10-5; Taylor Collinge, P, def. Lauren Brown, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 10-5.
DOUBLES — Olivia Potthoff/Aubrey Hanks, W, def. Qia Harlan/Megan Rost, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3); Payton Kastella/Abigail Shaffer, W, def. Ara Mercer/Sarah Kinzle, 6-4, 6-2; Sierra Lundeen/Carly Garrick, P, def. Stacid Tremper/Anna Elm, 6-4, 6-4.