Hillsboro hosts second home tennis invitational
By JOSIE BARTEL
Contributing writer
Hillsboro High School girls' tennis team hosted their second invitational of the season Sept. 18.
Nine teams participated in the meet, including Hillsboro Gold and Red, Wichita Collegiate and Independent, Sacred Heart, Hutch Trinity, Sterling, Chapman, and Circle.
"We are still searching for a line-up that clicks and works best, but this was a much better meet for us and a nice confidence booster," said head coach Lynn Wiebe.
In No. 1 doubles action, Hillsboro Red's Julia Loewen and Kelsey Bartel fell to Chapman 1-8 and then to Hutch Trinity's Abby Degner and Lizzie Degner, 2-8.
Amanda Faber and Greta Wiebe for Hillsboro Gold, defeated Hutch Trinity's duo and then Sterling. Next, Faber and Wiebe competed against Wichita Independent, falling 3-8.
"Faber and Wiebe continue to work together fairly well," said Coach Wiebe. "The girls struggled a bit, but came back in their second match against Sterling to win 8-6."
The No. 2 doubles teams placed fourth and ninth in their bracket. After having a bye their first round, Hillsboro Gold's Maria Loewen and Anna Woelk faced Hutch Trinity's Sarah Brummett and Sami Mazur. Loewen and Woelk triumphed 8-5, advancing in the winner's bracket to face Wichita Collegiate. Hillsboro fell to Collegiate, 3-8. They played for third, but lost to Sacred Heart, 4-8.
Emma Heyen and Courtney Fast, playing for Hillsboro Red, received two blows; first from Sterling's Katelyn Buckman and Courtney Laymon, then Brummett and Mazur, who may have avenged their earlier lost to fellow Trojans, Loewen and Woelk. Both game scores came to 2-8.
Playing at No. 2 singles for Hillsboro Gold, Lauren Just individually claimed a second place finish after falling to Holly Jabara from Wichita Independent, 8-3. Just reached the final round after defeating Ties Thompson of Hutch Trinity, 8-1, and Jamie Gellerman of Sterling, 8-4.
For Hillsboro Red, Elise Heyen, playing at No. 2 singles, finished sixth after her second match-up with Circle's Olivia Newfarmer. Heyen also faced Brittany Herrs of Chapman, defeating her 8-6.
The battle of the Trojans was the name of the game for third place in the No. 1 singles bracket. After each winning two, Becky Faber (Hillsboro Red) and Amber Loewen (Hillsboro Gold) faced each other for third. Faber triumphed 8-6.
Faber lost to Radha Nagireddy of Wichita Independent, 1-8, and Loewen lost to Janet Prather of Sterling, 5-8. Nagireddy and Prather ended up facing each other for first. Nagireddy won 8-6, which helped Wichita Independent claim the top spot at the tournament.
Hillsboro Gold came in second. Hillsboro Red finished seventh.
The girls were at Wichita Collegiate Saturday and at a Hesston junior varsity tournament and Circle quad Tuesday. Varsity will be in action Saturday at the MCAA league meet in Sterling.
