Bulldogs dominate on first day of district tennis tournament

RATHDRUM — Logan Temple scored a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 win over Moscow to advance to the finals of boys singles, Cassidy Story was sharp in going undefeated in girls singles, while the Bulldog doubles teams dominated the action, leading to a strong first day for the Sandpoint tennis team at the 4A Region 1 tennis tournament at Lakeland and Post Falls High Schools on Friday.

Strong winds made for difficult tennis conditions, but it didn’t seem to faze the deep Sandpoint squad, as all 18 district players one at least one match, with a whopping 17 still alive in today’s championship and consolation rounds.

Bulldog head coach Kent Anderson said the day couldn’t have gone much better, including a battle between teammates in mixed doubles, where Liz Parsley and Michael Favor won a three set war over Jacob Jackson and Allura Livingston.

“This was as good as any mixed match I’ve ever seen at districts. The quick reaction volleys were phenomenal,” praised Anderson. “Michael’s consistency combined with Liz’s strong serves and net play were the difference in the match.”

Temple scored a huge win over Moscow’s Derek Wendt in the quarterfinals, and will need to keep grinding today to punch his ticket to state.

“Logan came out smoking with a dominant first set win, before Wendt’s consistency finally wore him down in the second,” described Anderson. “Logan reloaded in the third and dominated once again with some powerful ground strokes combined with well timed drop shots to take Derek out of his game.”

Story, no stranger to district tennis as a four year varsity player, lost just four games all day, taming both the wind and her opponents with a sharp brand of tennis.

“She went undefeated today but the way she did was a little shocking,” claimed Anderson. “She was crushing her first serve in both her matches and her sharp-angled backhands and powerful forehands were almost perfect.”

Freshman Alana Siefert bounced back from a loss to Lakeland’s No. 1 girl, soundly beating Lakeland and Moscow to reach the semis of the play-back round.

Laney Search and Khloe Kyllonen, who finished second at state last year, cruised to easy straight set wins, as did teammates Violet Plummer and Caroline Suppiger, and the two will meet this morning in the girls doubles championship. The winner goes to state, the loser must then win the consolation championship for the second berth.

“The girls’ serving was exceptional, recording numerous aces and service winners,” claimed Anderson.

Two Bulldog teams will also meet in the boys doubles final, as Matthew Curtiss and Patrick Rockwell made quick work of their opponents, and will now face hungry teammates Jake Aguirre and Reilly Wolfe in what could be an entertaining final.

“Matthew and Patrick used their speed, size and athleticism to completely dominate their Lakeland opponent,” said Anderson. “Jake and Reilly struggled with the wind while winning a close first set, then returned to their normal form in the second set against a strong Moscow team.”

All matches today will be played at Lakeland High in Rathdrum, beginning at 10 a.m.

TEAM SCORES — 1, Sandpoint 37. 2, Moscow 28. 3, Lakeland 8.

(Top two in each division advance to state 4A tournament at the Boise Racquet and Swim Club)

BOYS SINGLES — First round: N. Talha, Mos, d. C. Adams, LL, 6-0, 6-1; I. Wendt, Mos, d. N. Talha, Mos, 6-1, 6-1; C. Diel, Spt, d. J. Roth, LL, 6-3, 6-0; L. Temple, Spt, d. J. Schumacher, LL, 6-0, 6-1; D. Wendt, Mos, d. K. Connor, Spt, 6-4, 6-1. Second round: I. Wendt, Mos, d. C. Diel, Spt, 6-1, 6-0; L. Temple, Spt, d. D. Wendt, Mos, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. Consolation: K. Connor, Spt, d. C. Adams, LL, 6-1, 6-1; K. Connor, Spt, d. J. Schumacher, LL, 6-0, 6-0; N. Talha, Mos, d. J. Roth, LL, 7-5, 6-3.

BOYS DOUBLES — First round: Faubion/Jay, LL, d. Odberg/Garber, Mos, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3; Kitchel/Johnson, Mos, d. Durfee/Brown, LL, 6-3, 6-2. Semifinals: Rockwell/Curtis, Spt, d. Faubion/Jay, LL, 6-1, 6-2; Wolfe/Aguirre, Spt, d. Kitchel/Johnson, Mos, 7-5, 6-3. Consolation round: Durfee/Brown, LL, d. Faubion/Jay, LL, 7-6 (14-12), 7-5; Kitchel/Johnson, Mos, d. Garber/Odberg, Mos, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

GIRLS SINGLES — First round: A. Clark, Spt, d. S. Orrell, LL, 6-4, 6-3; E. Postell, Mos, d. A. Clark, Spt, 6-0, 6-2; A. Bear, LL, d. L. Blood, Mos, 6-2, 6-3; C. Story, Spt, d. S. Eng, Mos, 6-0, 6-2; A. Rotchford, LL, d. A. Seifert, Spt, 6-1, 6-4. Semifinals — E. Postell, Spt, d. A. Bear, LL, 6-1, 6-1; C. Story, Spt, d. A. Rotchford, LL, 6-0, 6-2. Consolation — A. Seifert, Spt, d. S. Orrell, LL, 6-2, 6-0; A. Seifert, Spt, d. S. Eng, Mos, 6-3, 6-4; L. Blood, Mos, d. A. Clark, Spt, 6-2, 6-2.

GIRLS DOUBLES — First round: Adams/Sanford, Mos, d. Viebrock/Gagnier, LL, 6-1, 6-1; Suppiger/Plummer, Spt, d. Windsor/Schmidt, Mos, 6-1, 6-1. Semifinals: Search/Kyllonen, Spt, d. Adams/Sanford, Mos, 6-2, 6-0; Suppiger/Plummer, Spt, d. LaZelle/Wheeler, LL, 6-0, 6-3. Consolation — LaZelle/Wheeler, LL, d. Viebrock/Gagnier, LL, 7-6 (7), 6-3; Adams/Sanford, Mos, d. Windsor/Schmidt, Mos, 6-2, 6-1.

MIXED DOUBLES — First round: Sivula/Gray, Mos, d. Coons/Zito, LL, 6-0, 6-0; Parsley/Favor, Spt, d. Blowers/Pearson, LL, 6-1, 6-0. Semifinals: Wilk/Utgikar, Mos, d. Sivula/Gray, Mos, 6-1, 6-1; Parsley/Favor, Spt, d. Jackson/Livingston, Spt, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1. Consolation: Jackson/Livingston, Spt, d. Coons/Zito, LL, 6-1, 6-1; Sivula/Gray, Mos, d. Blowers/Pearson, LL, 6-3, 6-0.