HHS tennis team takes first at regionals
Staff writer
Hillsboro High School girls' tennis team hosted the KSHSAA 3-2-1 girls' regional tennis tournament Monday at Hillsboro Sports Complex.
The Trojans won the regional tournament with nine points and will send two doubles teams to the state meet held at 11 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday in Hesston. The top four finishes in singles and doubles from each of the four regional tournaments advance to state.
Sacred Heart was runner up with seven points.
"I was thrilled that we won the team championship," head coach Lynn Wiebe said.
Roll drying and bringing in leaf blowers to dry tennis courts was probably not what Wiebe wanted Monday. The weekend rains saturated the courts postponing the meet two hours and temperatures in the upper 40s made conditions less than desirable.
"The girls made up for standing and playing in the cold weather by winning regionals," an elated Wiebe said.
The nine schools competing in the tournament included Hillsboro, Wabaunsee, Maur Hill Mount Academy, Belleville, Neodesha, Kansas City Christian, Sabetha, Sacred Heart, and Maranatha Academy.
In doubles play, No. 1 seed senior Erin Wiebe and sophomore Lora Andrews dominated their regional opponents.
In the first round, they defeated Solan and Dalbey of Kansas City Christian 6-2, 6-2. In their second round, they defeated Hausche and Jemison of Sacred Heart 6-1, 6-0.
In the semi-final round, the duo came up against teammates Kelsey Kaufman and Amanda Faber, the No. 4 seed. Wiebe and Andrews defeated Kaufman and Faber 6-0, 6-0 to head into the championship finals.
In the finals, Wiebe and Andrews defeated Allen and Rokey of Sabetha 6-2, 6-0, to win the regional championship. They have a 15-5 record heading to state competition in Hesston.
"Erin and Lora played at the top of their game all day long," Coach Wiebe said. "They hit the ball with power and placed the ball well strategically."
Hillsboro's doubles team of Kaufman and Faber won their first round against McClure and Hoduski of Maranatha Academy 6-0, 6-1. In the second round, they defeated Dickens and Lair of Neodesha 6-0, 6-0.
The team faced-off against their teammates, Wiebe and Andrews. losing in that semifinal round. They competed for third place against Longs and Maike of Wabaunsee winning 6-2, 6-1 to advance to state. Their record is now 11-5.
"Kelsey and Amanda also played very well," Coach Wiebe said.
"Unfortunately, the two doubles teams had to play each other in the semi-finals which was actually the best doubles match of the whole tournament," Coach Wiebe said.
"It would have been nice to see them play each other in the finals, but due to the way our seeding went, we ended up with a No. 1 and No. 4 seed.
That was OK though, because our biggest goal was to get both teams to state, which we did," she said.
In singles draw, Emily Railsback, seeded three, won her first round against Kelsey TenEyck of Wabaunsee 6-0, 6-0. In the second round she lost to Ashley Arnold of Neodesha 6-4, 6-2.
"Emily played well," coach Wiebe said, "She took control of her first round match early.
"Emily represented our team well this season, and although I was very disappointed for her that she didn't win that state qualifying round, I felt good about how she played," Wiebe said.
In another singles draw, Danielle Hagen was seed 12th and won her first match against Sarah Spilchal of Belleville in a tiebreaker 8-7 (7-4). In her second match, she lost to Kim Francis of Kansas City Christian 6-4, 6-2.
"Everyone won at least one match in this tournament," Wiebe said.
"We certainly enjoyed the excitement of winning this regional; however, we know that reality faces us this Friday and Saturday at the state tournament, as we truly face the best in the state," Wiebe said. "We are looking forward to this challenge."
