Bulldog tennis team keeps rolling along

LIBBY — Led by two three-set singles wins by Mikka Nostdahl and Ben Hardy, the Sandpoint boys tennis team had a strong showing at Libby last Friday, sweeping every match en route to a 7-0 win.

“Mikka battled a tough hitter and dismantled him in the third set,” said Bulldogs head coach Kent Anderson of Nostdahl, who played No.1 singles while Hardy played at No. 3. “Ben’s serve finally wore his opponent down.”

Per Montana state tennis rules, each team played four singles matches and three doubles matches, unlike in Idaho, where they play mixed doubles. The girls team lost to Libby 4-3, with Susan Williams earning a hard fought three-set win at No. 3 and singles and Sophia Meulenberg and Jesse Cobb a nice win at No. 2 doubles.

“Susan wore down her opponent with her customary tenacity. She absolutely refuses to lose,” said Anderson, who also had high praise for his No. 2 doubles team. “These guys are on a nice winning streak and play well together as a team.”

Jackson Bussard notched a win in his first singles match, and Hardy teamed with Steven Gavin for a strong showing in boys doubles. Crystal Clark played through a bad knee in a hard fought, two and a half hour loss at No. 4 singles, prompting Anderson to call it the most gutsy performance of the year to date for Sandpoint.

SANDPOINT 7, LIBBY 0

BOYS SINGLES — No. 1, Mikka Nostdahl, Spt, d. Alex Cislo, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0. No. 2, Kevin Kirby, Spt, d. Hunter Sheffield, 6-3, 7-5. No. 3, Ben Hardy, Spt, d. Cree Maloney, 6-3, 6-7 (8-6), 6-3. No. 4, Jackson Bussard, Spt, d. Levi Edwards-Mysilki, 6-4, 6-0.

BOYS DOUBLES — No. 1., Ben Hardy/Steven Gavin, Spt, d. Broden/Maloney, 6-1, 6-1. No. 2, Dash Kamp/Ryan Novak, Spt, d. Enderbrack/Schikora, 7-6, 6-2. No. 3, Mike Berg/Nik Thorell, Spt, d. Ramos/Germany, 6-1, 7-5.

LIBBY 4, SANDPOINT 3

GIRLS SINGLES — No. 1, Jackie Mee, Lib, d. Abby Helander, 6-2, 6-0. No. 2, Audra Poppen, Lib, d. Justine Clawson, 6-0, 6-1. No. 3, Susan Williams, Spt, d. Lindsey Kehn, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. No. 4, Crystal Clark, Spt, d. Chelsea Oeldewaldt, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

GIRLS DOUBLES — No. 1, Valentine/Newman, Lib, d. Meranda Carter/Roxanne Imeson, 6-2, 6-3. No. 2, Sophia Meulenberg/Jesse Cobb, Spt, d. Shaw/Buti, 6-1, 6-2. No. 3, Brittany Claffey/Azumi Smith, Spt, d. Granger/O’Brien, 6-4, 6-3.

n Thorell leads Bulldogs past Moscow 7-5

SANDPOINT — Playing without three of its top players in Abby Helander, Piper Wahlin and Dustin Pierce, and missing two others due to injury, the Sandpoint tennis team still managed to post an impressive 7-5 win at Moscow on Saturday — a testament to the depth on the team.

Nik Thorell played No. 3 singles, and posted an impressive win in what proved to be the deciding match, and helped the Bulldogs sweep the boys singles.

“He destroyed his opponent,” said Anderson of Thorell. “It was the deciding match and he played well under pressure.”

Steve Gavin and Sophia Meulenberg scored a three set win at No. 1 mixed doubles, and Kyenna Jensen and Roxanne Imeson teamed for a straight set win at No. 2 doubles to provide the other crucial wins.

SANDPOINT 7, MOSCOW 5

BOYS SINGLES — No. 1, Ben Hardy, Spt, d. Sean Chenaweth, 6-2, 6-3.  No. 2, Kevin Kirby, Spt, d. Andrew Fife, 6-1, 6-1. No. 3, Nik Thorell, Spt, d. Ames Fowler,

BOYS DOUBLES — No. 1, Mikka Nostdahl/Jackson Bussard, Spt, d. Adams/George, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0. No. 2, Adams, Richards, Mos, d. Dash Kamp/Ryan Novak, 6-2, 6-4.

MIXED DOUBLES — No. 1, Steve Gavin/Sophia Meulenberg, Spt, d. Allen/Patterson, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. No. 2, Chenoweth/Klas, Mos, d. Mike Berg/Jesse Cobb, 6-3, 7-5.

GIRLS SINGLES — No. 1, Katie South, Mox, d. Meranda Carter, 6-4, 6-3.  No 2, Susan Williams, Spt, d. Story Donaldson, 7-5, 6-2.  No. 3, Amey Kaufman, Mos, d. Brittany Claffey, 6-3, 6-4.

GIRLS DOUBLES — No. 1, Levy/Pennington, Mos, d. Carter/Azumi Smith, 6-1, 6-1. No. 2, Roxanne Imeson/Kyenna Jensen, Spt, d. Rohz/Ruhoff, 6-4, 6-2.