Tennis runs into variable weather in first week
The Whitefish girls tennis team was able to squeeze in about two thirds of a matchup against Dillion on Saturday before the weather got the best the day.
Playing in Polson, the Whitefish girls ended up beating Dillon 4-1, although one singles match was left unfinished and two doubles matches were canceled due to a wintery mix of weather blowing in.
Whitefish girls head coach Patrick Dryden said the play from Gracie Smyley was one of the best highlights of the day. Smyley, the defending State A girls tennis singles champion, dominated her first match of the season winning over Dillon’s Bella Glossa in straight sets without even dropping one game — 6-0, 6-0.
“Most importantly probably is that Gracie Smyley played really well,” Dryden said. “She was very consistent, didn’t lose very many points. Just looked like she was confident and completely under control.”
He was also impressed with the confident play from his No. 2 singles player Lauren Brown who won in straight sets as well.
“That was a really good confidence booster for her, she made virtually no mistakes in her match,” the coach said.
At doubles, Dryden says he threw together a new combo at the last minute of Ali Hirsch and Anyah Cripe. The duo had never played a doubles match together before, and the combo worked out beautifully as they won 6-2, 6-4 over the No. 1 doubles team from Dillon.
“They got off to a little bit of a rocky start, then kind of got the hang of it and rolled after that,” Dryden recalled. “I think that team has got some potential. Anyah had a lot of pace on her ground strokes and Ali was very dominating at the net, that’s kind of where I see their future.”
Whitefish was also set to play Polson, but was canceled due to weather.
This came just two days after Whitefish’s first matches of the season against Columbia Falls were weather delayed and eventually cancelled at Flathead Valley Community College on Thursday.
“It was a bit of bad luck because there was plenty of sunshine, the timing just wasn’t right,” Dryden said. “Every time we’d squeegee off, wait an hour and a half, and we’d get hit again.”
Boys tennis matches against Columbia Falls on Thursday, and Dillon and Polson on Saturday were all canceled and did not start before the variable weather took over.
This week the weather forecast is calling for sun and Whitefish is hoping to get some full matches in. The tennis teams were set to play in Libby after press time on Tuesday and then will play Stevensville and Havre at FVCC on Saturday.
Whitefish 4, Dillon 1
Singles
Gracie Smyley def. Bella Glossa 6-0, 6-0. Lauren Brown def. Laura Leonardson
6-0, 6-1. Allanah Rose (Dillon) def. Tallory Workman 6-1, 6-2. No. 4 — weather stoppage.
Doubles
Ali Hirsch/Anyah Cripe (WF) def. Rachel Fluckiger/Eden Kindberg 6-2, 6-4. Emma Trieweiler/Addie Oehlerich def. Ruby Pierce/Brooklyn Williams 6-2, 6-4.