Hillsboro High School girls tennis team competed at meets Thursday at Smoky Valley and Saturday in Hesston.
Becky Faber took third place out of 16 in singles at Smoky Valley. She defeated Sarah Tajchman of Chapman, 8-4, and Jenny Lindoff of Chapman, 8-2. She lost to eventual champion Rachael Hageman of Hesston, 8-1, but defeated Allie Hipp of Claflin in the third-place match.
At Hesston, Faber placed fourth. She lost again to Hageman, 8-3, then defeated Kendi Hickel of Claflin, 8-4, and Keli Dunn of Wichita Collegiate, 8-6. She lost to Mel Mihelic of Andover, 8-0, in the third-place match.
“Becky continues to play well in singles,” Coach Bob Woelk said. “Even when she loses, she makes her opponent work for every point. I am really happy with her tenacity.”
Aubrey Meier struggled in singles at Smoky Valley. She lost to Hageman and Courtney Chacon of Trinity. She forced Morgan Schrock of Hesston to a tiebreak, but lost in a tiebreaker. She lost her final match to Tara Gladding of Smoky Valley, 8-3.
Courtney Weber played singles at Hesston. She lost to Ali Anderson of Hesston, 8-2, Hipp of Claflin, 8-0, and Allison Zietlow of Collegiate, 8-6. She defeated Tiffany Prieb of Hesston, 8-3 to place seventh in No. 2 singles.
Woelk tried new doubles combinations. Weber and Emma Heyen played together at Smoky Valley. They lost to Hesston, 8-4 and Smoky Valley, 8-6. They then defeated both Chapman teams, 8-2 to finish 13th of 16 pairs.
Elise Heyen and Hayley Pankratz also teamed up at Smoky Valley. The lost to Smoky Valley, 8-2, before defeating Chapman, 8-1, and Smoky Valley, 8-2. They lost to Abilene, 8-2, and finished ninth.
Elise Heyen and Emma Heyen played No. 1 doubles at Hesston. They lost to Hesston, 8-1, and Claflin, 8-1. They defeated Collegiate, 8-3, and lost to Hesston to finish sixth.
Panrkatz and Meier teamed up in No. 2 doubles at Hesston. They lost to Hesston, 8-2, Claflin, 8-3, and Collegiate, 8-5. They won against Andover, 8-6, to earn seventh place.
“We are still trying out different combinations for doubles,” Woelk said. “Just when I think I have settled on the pairings, something changes.”
HHS played again Tuesday at Hesston. Their next meet is Tuesday at Wichita Collegiate.