CHANUTE — Iola High’s tennis team wrapped up its season Friday at the Class 4A regionals.
Junior Carley Cescon and freshman Allie Utley got the day off to a great start for Iola as they dominated their opening round match in route to a 9-0 victory over Columbus.
The victory advanced the 12th-seeded doubles pairing into the first round of the 16-team bracket, where Chanute’s fifth-seeded pairing was waiting on the Fillies.
Chanute cruised to a 6-0 victory in the first set.
Cescon and Utley showed improvement in the second set, but were eliminated, 6-2.
“Both did a great job hustling after the ball in the backcourt and trying to place the ball,” Iola head coach Jenn Bycroft said. “We needed to attack the net a little more.
“Both girls are new to tennis this year, Carley being a Junior and Allie a freshman,” Bycroft continued. “Carley has some natural athletic ability and that helps tremendously. Allie has really worked a lot this past summer and fall on her entire game. If they keep that up, we’ll see some more good things next season.”
Iola juniors Macayla Bycroft and Erin Klubek participated in the most exciting match of the day when they opened against El Dorado.
El Dorado jumped to a quick 5-2 lead, but Klubek and Bycroft, Iola’s two most experienced players, rallied to tie the match, 6-6.
El Dorado quickly regained momentum and rattled off three straight games to win the match 9-6 and end Klubek and Bycroft’s seasons.
“There were very long rallies many times,” Bycroft said. “It was a heartbreaking match for all of us. They knew they could beat them. It just didn’t happen today. I can’t complain. Both Macayla and Erin played tough today, both mentally and physically.”
Iola sophomore Jennifer Tidd faced a tough draw as she had a bye past the opening round but had second-seeded Lyssa Schabel of Independence waiting for her in the next round.
The 15th-seeded Tidd struggled with the strong serve and quickness of Schabel and fell 6-0, 6-0.
Tidd had played in only eight singles matches all season, but agreed to compete in the singles tournament to aid the team, Bycroft said.
“She has improved her strokes a lot this season, putting some more spin on the ball and really trying to place it to make her opponents move,” Bycroft said. “Unfortunately today, she ended up playing the No. 2 seed.
“Jen had some nice drop shots and went out and gave it everything she had today,” Bycroft continued. “She is just a sophomore, so hopefully she’ll just keep working at it more and more and do great things next year.”
