INDEPENDENCE — Jennifer Bycroft isn’t sure if it’s a mental block, or just a case of some powerful opponents.
Whatever the reason, the Iola High Fillies squad struggled on the road Thursday at Independence, going winless on the day.
“It seems as a team, we always struggle when we play at Indy,” said Bycroft, the team’s head coach. “Tennis is so much of a mental game, and if we don’t have control of that, our level of play seems to go downhill fast.
“A lot of silly errors were made,” she continued. “It seemed the kids were more nervous while playing, and we just didn’t have our heads in the game. Hopefully, we’ll change that and be ready for Chanute next Thursday.”
In No. 1 singles play, Megan Smith fell to Jennifer Harrison of Fort Scott, Abbi Groff of Independence and Katy Short of Pittsburg in shutout losses. She fell 8-1 to Rebecca Wendt of Chanute.
Katie Lieureance, in No. 2 singles, was shut out in losses to Kandice Rost of Fort Scott, Tyra Welch of Independence, Katie Phalen of Pittsburg and Shelby Stair of Chanute.
Alexis Hobbs and Bobbi Sinclair fell in No. 1 doubles to Crain and Savage of Fort Scott, 8-0, to Mendoza and Julian of Independence, 8-2, to Baden and Long of Pittsburg, 8-2, and to Liudahl and Thuston of Chanute, 8-0.
In No. 2 doubles play, Shelby Reno and Chyanne Vaughn were shut out in losses to Hutchison and Reeves of Fort Scott, Matthews and Matthews of Independence and to Angleton and Bearrick of Fort Scott. They lost, 8-1, to Pichler and Lundberg of Pittsburg.
Struggles plague Fillies tennis in Indy
