INDEPENDENCE — Not a good day was had by all.
Iola High’s Fillies weren’t able to put things together on the tennis courts at Independence Thursday.
Iola did not win a match at the meet hosted by Independence High School.
“We made a ton of errors — silly mistakes and basic fundamental errors cost us a lot of points,” said Jennifer Bycroft, Fillies’ tennis coach. “The girls were more sluggish than usual. We hope to turn that around next Thursday at Chanute.”
Iola’s No. 1 singles player Katana Smith dropped three 8-0 decisions. Those were to Fort Scott’s Michelle Buntain, Independence’s Abbi Groff and Chanute’s Madison Wendt.
Katana Smith also lost 8-1 to Katy Short of Pittsburg.
Megan Smith battled but lost four matches. She lost 8-0 to Corina Harrison of Fort Scott. Megan Smith’s best match was an 8-4 loss to Ashlyn Conner of Independence. She lost 8-2 to Pittsburg’s Brittney Wilde and lost 8-1 to Chanute’ Abby Liudahl.
Iola’s No. 1 doubles team Abbey St. Clair and Alexis Hobbs had a good match against Pittsburg’s Pichler and Curlee before losing 8-5. They lost 8-0 to Fort Scott’s Crain and Harrison, to Independence’s Porter and Welch and to Chanute’s Thuston and Bearrick.
Shelby Reno and Bobbi Sinclair played as the Fillies’ No. 2 doubles team. They lost three matches 8-2 to Fort Scott’s Savage and Hightower, to Independence’s Julian and Mendoza and to Chanute’s Ungles and Stair. Reno and Sinclair lost 8-2 to Long and Baden of Pittsburg.
The Iola varsity travels to Chanute next Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Iola’s junior varsity players competed at Parsons.
Holly Schomaker finished fourth in the No. 1 singles division with a 1-2 mark. Her win was a 6-4 decision over Dezi Rash of Labette County. Schomaker lost 6-3 to Olivia Laidler of Pittsburg and 62- to Emily Gatewood of Parsons.
“Holly is a senior but this was her first competitive tennis match. She placed the ball extremely well and showed hustle out there,” said Bycroft.
Brittany Porter played in the No. 2 singles spot and lost 6-1 to Labette County’s Kiersten Salisbury and to Averey Wood of Neodesha by the same score. Fort Scott’s Emmah Reeves beat Porter 6-0.
