By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
The Cheney girls' tennis team opened its Great Northern League schedule with a pair of wins last week, knocking off both Deer Park and Riverside by identical 5-2 scores.
Senior Missy Gill got things going for the Blackhawks on the road against the Stags, downing Sami Gatts in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0, for a win at No. 1 singles. Michelle Passey couldn't find a way to get past Kayla Moorman at No. 2, losing 6-2, 5-3, while Caitlin Miller struggled against Sam Petrina at No. 3, losing 6-2, 6-0. Alyssa Bray gave Cheney a split of singles action, easily downing Lindsey Pirtle, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 4.
Amy Schroeder and Jacqueline Robinette got the Hawks' doubles action off right with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Amanda Magney and Kelsey Moorman at No. 1, while Leslie Martin and Jumi Young teamed for a 6-2, 6-1 win over Brittany Lowther and Cynnea Schriebman at No. 2. Alla Chekulayeva and Melissa Jamieson moved up from junior varsity to top things off for the Hawks, failing to drop a game in their 6-0, 6-0 win over Colleen Clark and Athea Ulberg at No. 3.
Thursday at Riverside it was Passey moving up to No. 1 singles while Gill was gone on a college visitation trip. The junior struggled in the first set against the Rams' ace Mikayla Grant, but rebounded to battle the four-year varsity player before falling 1-6, 6-1, 6-7 (0-7), an effort that greatly impressed Hawks' head coach Matt McFarland.
“A lot of girls will give up after that (first set), but she didn't and battled back,” he added.
Schroeder also played hard before falling 6-3, 6-0 to Rhiana MacDonald at No. 2. Martin and Young, both moving back to their usual singles spots from doubles against Deer Park, had little trouble notching wins at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively, with Martin downing Kannie McCoul 6-1, 6-3, and Young dispatching Madison Mills in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1.
In doubles, Saraj Bailey and Robinette emerged as 6-3, 6-2 winners at No. 1, Miller and Jessica Zieman were straight set, 6-1, 6-2, winners at No. 2 and Alyssa Bray and Melissa Jamieson teamed for a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 3.
McFarland was pleased with his team's effort and results last week, noting he mixed things up a bit on Tuesday against Deer Park, taking several of his juniors out of doubles play and putting them into singles to give them some experience for next season.
Cheney resumes league play with a pair of tough matches, hosting Colville on Tuesday, and traveling
to Clarkston on Thursday.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com
Reader Comments(0)