CHANUTE — In a three-way tie for third, Iola High’s Fillies won more games in matches Thursday. That put the Fillies in the third-place spot at Chanute High’s varsity tennis meet.
On a chilly afternoon and evening, the Fillies won four matches in three divisions.
Iola head coach Jennifer Bycroft said there were a couple of matches that the Fillies should’ve played tougher and pulled out the wins.
“But again, things to work on,” Bycroft said. “I’m proud of our kids’ sportsmanship.”
Junior Abbey St. Clair nailed down two victories in the No. 2 singles division. She pushed past Nikki Glass of Coffeyville for an 8-1 win, then lost 8-1 to Megan Reed of Pittsburg.
St. Clair came back to claim an 8-7 victory by winning the tiebreaker 7-3 against Columbus’ Alyssa Goodwin. Chanute’s Breianna Brooks beat St. Clair 8-0.
Iola’s No. 1 singles player was Katana Smith. She lost 8-3 to Callie McAskill of Coffeyville, 8-1 to Katy Short of Pittsburg. K. Smith dropped an 8-6 decision to Columbus’ Ashley Simpson, then lost 8-0 to Chanute’s Czarina Ramos.
In No. 1 doubles, Megan Smith and Shyanne Hendry won 8-0 over Columbus’ Zoe Foster and Stacy Derfelt.
The Iola pair lost 8-2 to Coffeyville’s Haley Smith and Tayita Abudu. They also lost 8-1 to Pittsburg’s Jessica Curlee and Emily Baden and to Chanute’s Alexis Thuston and Madison Wendt.
Sophomore Alexis Hobbs played in her first varsity action. Hobbs combined with Sabrina Graham for No. 2 doubles. Hobbs and Graham chalked up an 8-2 win over Coffeyville’s Rachael Jones and Taylor Neal.
Hobbs and Graham lost 8-1 to Pittsburg’s Brittany Wilde and Laikyn Long. They lost 8-2 to Columbus’s Lexee Zook and Hannah Carpino and 8-0 to Chanute’s Haley Akridge and Beth Ungles.
“Alexis was very strong at the net. I’ve seen a lot of improvement in her and she only picked up a racquet for the first time four weeks ago,” Bycroft said.
Bycroft said the Fillies need to be better at looking for the open court and placing the ball to get the point done. Also, she said her players are leaving too much room and open space for their opponents to work with to get points.
The Fillies travel to Pittsburg next Thursday.
Fillies net wins at Chanute
