Whitefish girls tennis undefeated regular season first in program history

After playing four matches in two days to end the regular season, the Whitefish girls tennis team managed to come away with all four wins; the team sports a 14-0 undefeated record which is a first for the program.

Whitefish head coach Patrick Dryden says every girl on the team was part of achieving the undefeated record, and the accomplishment reflects well on the team as a whole.

“It’s the first time in school history that the girls have done it (been undefeated)...” Dryden said. “It embodies the whole team aspect of it. We had 13 girls on varsity and all of them contributed to that perfect 14-0 record.”

As a key part of staying undefeated, Whitefish’s Lauren Brown carved out a win against Corvallis’ Dakota Powell on Saturday. Brown won the match 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (6), with the final set going to a tiebreaker due to time constraints. Brown’s victory helped the Lady Bulldogs edge Corvallis 4-3 and remain unbeaten.

“We were tied 3-3 and Lauren Brown gutted out a quality win against a quality opponent…” Dryden recalled.

Also to win over Corvallis was the Whitefish No. 2 doubles team of Ashley Gunset and Elliette Haigh who outlasted a tough team, winning 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. At No. 3 doubles Addie Oehlerich and Piper Dudley also won over Corvallis, 7-6(8), 6-1.

Whitefish defeated Hamilton 5-2 with wins coming from Alivia Lusko and Sophie Olson at No. 3 and 4 singles. In doubles play, the team of Emma Trieweiler and Tallory Workman won over Hamilton’s Maria Kanewisher and Brynn Lehtole, 6-2, 6-2.

Dryden says last week the team was short a few players due to various reasons, and two players in particular, Dudley and Olson, stepped up to contribute in Whitefish’s matches.

He added that Oehlerich is undefeated at the No. 3 doubles spot, regardless of who she plays with, and that is another reason the team was able to stay undefeated.

“She (Oehlerich) really played well, had a bunch of tiebreakers,” Dryden said. “She got a lot of court time and really has improved every week.”

Whitefish also defeated Ronan 6-1 and Polson 4-3 on Friday. Against Polson — Whitefish’s toughest opponent in conference play — the Whitefish doubles teams carried the girls team to the win. All three Bulldog doubles teams won with Brown securing a win as well at No. 2 singles.

Whitefish is likely to go head-to-head with several from Polson in the Northwest A divisional tournament this week.

Dryden says Polson will be the biggest challenge for the Whitefish girls.

“It’s (Whitefish) a senior-laden group and we’re pretty strong from top to bottom…” he said. “On the girls side it's really going to come down to Whitefish and Polson; we’ve kind of been the top programs for the last 6-7 years and this year’s going to be no different.”

The Lady Bulldog lineup going into the postseason is Anyah Cripe and Brown in the No. 1 and 2 singles spots. Lusko and Emma Shaffer will round out the singles players.

In doubles, the Workman-Trieweiler team will enter the tournament as Whitefish’s No. 1 doubles team. Gunset and Haigh will take the two spot and Oehlerich will play with Lauren Solem in the No. 3 doubles for divisionals. Dudley and Olson will be alternates.

“The goal throughout the season isn’t to bring home trophies, it’s to enjoy the experience of playing high school tennis,” Dryden said. “A big part of that is qualifying for state.”

The Lady Bulldogs are set to play in the Northwestern A Divisional Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Flathead Valley Community College. Start time was yet to be determined at press time on Tuesday.

Whitefish 4, Corvallis 3

Singles

Lauren Brown (W) def. Dakota Powell 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(6); Mackenzie Gross (C) def. Alivia Lusko 6-1, 0-6, 6-4; Alana Watt (C) def. Sophie Olson 5-7, 6-2, 1-0(6), Emma Shaffer (W) won by forfeit.

Doubles

Hailey Anderson/Madison Henry (C) def. Emma Trieweiler/Tallory Workman 6-1, 6-2; Ashley Gunset/Elliette Haigh (W) def. Kennedy Yaskus/Abby Jessop 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; Addie Oehlerich/Piper Dudley (W) def. Jayde Venema/Alivia Jessop 7-6(8), 6-1.

Whitefish 5, Hamilton 2

Singles

Eliana Foss (H) def. Lauren Brown 6-1, 6-1; Janessa Chaplin (H) won by forfeit, Alivia Lusko (W) def. Kristen Jessop 6-2, 6-2; Sophie Olson (W) def. Kiara Daughtey 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles

Emma Trieweiler/Tallory Workman (W) def. Maria Kanewisher/Brynn Lehtole 6-2, 6-2; Ashley Gunset/Elliette Haigh (W) def. Morgan Garvey/Anna Twardoski 6-0, 6-0; Addie Oehlerich/Piper Dudley (W) def. Gwen Wolfe/Chloe Greer 6-3, 6-1.

Whitefish 4, Polson 3

Singles

Clara Todd (P) def. Anyah Cripe 6-0, 6-0; Lauren Brown (W) def. Piper Hoxie 6-2, 6-1; Summer Newman (P) def. Alivia Lusko 6-2, 7-5; Hope Morrison (P) def. Sophie Olson 7-6(10), 4-6, 1-0(8).

Doubles

Tallory Workman/Emma Trieweiler (W) def. Sierra Lundeen/Liz Tolley 6-3, 4-6, 6-1; Ashley Gunset/Elliette Haigh (W) def. Camilla Foresti/Katie Smith 6-1, 6-4; Piper Dudley/Addie Oehlerich (W) def. Lucy Violette/Karli Owen 7-5, 7-6(5).

Whitefish 6, Ronan 1

Singles

Anyah Cripe (W) def. Kaileen Howard 6-1, 6-0; Lauren Brown (W) def. Maddy Perry 6-0, 6-4; Alivia Lusko (W) def. Trinity Carpentier 6-0, 6-0; Emma Shaffer (W) won by forfeit.

Doubles

Aaliyah Decker/Alyssa Pretty On Top (R) def. Ashley Gunset/Elliette Haigh 6-2, 6-2; Tallory Workman/Emma Trieweiler (W) def. Angie Paca/Molly Sydnor 6-0, 6-2; Addie Oehlerich/Piper Dudley (W) def. Kaileen Howard/Maddy Perry 7-5, 7-6.