Whitefish girls team continues strong performance

The Whitefish Lady Bulldogs faced a trio of challenging teams last week and won all three matches to move to 9-1 on the season.

Whitefish swept the Columbia Falls Wildkats 7-0 on Tuesday, April 27. Then the Dogs traveled south to the Bitterroot and defeated Hamilton 7-0 and Corvallis 5-2.

Whitefish senior and No. 1 singles player Gracie Smyley had her hands full this week, taking on three top Class A players. Lady Bulldog head coach Patrick Dryden says Smyley faced what he considers three of the players in the state who have the best chance at denying Smyley another state championship.

Smyley recorded a 6-2, 6-1 win over Wildkat Hannah Schweikert, who was the third-place finisher at the state tournament in 2019 when Smyley took the title. Later in the week she beat Hamilton’s Eliana Foss 7-5, 6-2 and Corvallis’ Madeline DeLeo 6-1, 6-3.

“I really think those are going to be the four semifinalists,” Dryden expressed. “(Smyley) defeated all three of them, but there were tense moments. It’s important, it was a confidence booster.

“There were just some real intense points and it seemed like when things got to a boil, a real pressure moment, Grace came through every time,” he added.

Dryden said in addition to Smyley, the rest of the singles lineup was on point last week. Whitefish won all its singles matches aside from a No. 4 singles match against Corvallis that pitted Emma Shaffer against one of Corvallis’ usual top doubles players.

Anyah Cripe, Lauren Brown and Shaffer rounded out the singles lineup against all three teams last week. Cripe had to tough out three-set matches against both Corvallis and Hamilton.

“I was really proud of the singles lineup, they just played with an incredible amount of intensity and gutted out almost every match,” Dryden said.

In doubles, Whitefish’s Ali Hirsch and Tallory Workman continued to show chemistry on the court and went 3-0 throughout the week. The duo needed a third set to get past Wildkats Grace Gedlaman and Lillian McDonald, but ultimately won 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-2. It was smooth sailing for the No. 1 Whitefish doubles team against Hamilton winning in straight sets, but their win over Corvallis was a little bumpier. Hirsch and Workman needed a tie breaker to beat Corvallis’ Hailey Anderson and Madison Henry 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (11).

Dryden said although he was encouraged by the Hirsch-Workman team, the rest of the doubles teams struggled to serve the ball which hampered their success.

“We’re starting to understand doubles and getting better with our strategy, but our serving definitely took a step backwards,” Dryden said, adding that their first serve percentage was low and there were numerous double faults all week. “I think I would attribute it to nerves, inexperience and maybe there’s something we’re doing in practice that we need to change. But we’ve got to get this cleaned up in the next couple of weeks.”

The depth of the team is a strength for Whitefish, but Dryden needs to narrow it down from 16 really strong players to 10 girls for the divisional lineup. The Western A Divisional tournament is just two weeks away and the Lady Bulldogs will be trying out different combinations to ensure they bring the best possible squad to those matches.

“Our focus is on having a very competitive divisional team,” Dryden expressed. “For the next two weeks, everytime those kids hit the court they’re really auditioning for a spot on that divisional team.”

Girls tennis has a busy week coming up and were set to kick it off with a match against Columbia Falls on Tuesday after press time. Then The girls will face AA Glacier on Thursday and host Ronan and Libby on Saturday in Whitefish.

Whitefish 7, Columbia Falls 0

Singles

Gracie Smyley, Whitefish, d. Hannah Schweikert 6-2, 6-1; Anyah Cripe, Whitefish, d. Cloey Ramage 6-3, 6-4; Lauren Brown, Whitefish, d. Anne Lubbert, 6-1, 6-0; Emma Shaffer, Whitefish, d. Abbey Biel 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles

Ali Hirsch/Tallory Workman, Whitefish, d. Grace Gedlaman/ Lillian McDonald 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-2; Emma Trieweiler/Ashley Gunset, Whitefish, d. Alyssa Williams/McKenzie Nelson 6-0, 6-0; Addie Oehlerich/Alivia Lusko, Whitefish, d. Zoey Byrd/ Kati Crockett 6-3, 6-2.

Whitefish 7, Hamilton 0

Singles

Gracie Smyley, Whitefish, d. Elianna Foss 7-5, 6-2; Anyah Cripe, Whitefish, d. Gracie Hawkes 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; Lauren Brown, Whitefish, d. Janessa Champlin 6-2, 6-3; Emma Shaffer, Whitefish, d. Sophia Lewanski 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles

Ali Hirsch/Tallory Workman, Whitefish, d. Marie Kanewisher/Brynn Lehtola 6-1, 6-1; Emma Trieweiler/Ashley Gunset, Whitefish, d. Madeline DeVall/Emma Hollingsworth 6-3, 6-1; Addie Oehlerich/Alivia Lusko, Whitefish, d. Delaney White/Morgan Gurney 6-2, 6-1; Elliette Haigh/Maile Vine, Whitefish, d. Ellie Pierce/Gwen Wolfe 6-0, 6-1

Whitefish 5, Corvallis 2

Singles

Gracie Smyley, Whitefish, d. Madeline Deleo 6-1, 6-3; Anyah Cripe, Whitefish, d. Tiani Ertel 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (8); Lauren Brown, Whitefish, d. Lilly Trail 6-1, 6-1; Emma Shaffer, Whitefish, d. Molly Powell 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles

Ali Hirsch/Tallory Workman, Whitefish, d. Hailey Anderson/Madison Henry 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (11); Abby Allsop/Emma Jessop, Corvallis, d. Emma Trieweiler/Elliette Haigh 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (8); Addie Oehlerich/Ashley Gunset, Whitefish, d. Josie WIlliams/Abby Jessop 6-0, 6-0.