Bulldogs claim title at Post Falls tennis tourney

POST FALLS — Led by a strong showing in girls singles, the Bulldogs edged 4A IEL rival Moscow to win the six-team Post Falls Tournament on Saturday, defending last year’s win.

Matches were played in a best of nine format, where matches were always nine games, from pool play to bracket play. The Bulldogs finished with 146 points, followed by Moscow (139), Coeur d’Alene (124), Cheney (108), Post Falls (90) and Lakeland (36).

Despite a little bit of rain slowing things down, it was a great day of tennis, and much needed for the Bulldogs, who have had scarce little court time this season.

Allura Livingston was dominating the action at No. 1 girls singles, losing just two games the entire day before being forced to default in the semis and collapsing.

Alana Seifert picked up the slack and made it all the way to the finals, before losing a close match to Cheney. Had Livingstone not defaulted, it would have been an all-Sandpoint final.

Laney Search and Khloe Kyllonen lost a tough final to the Vikings 5-4 in a revenge match at girls doubles from their last meeting, won in straight sets by the Bulldogs.

“Both these teams are Idaho powerhouses and they have a great rivalry going,” said Anderson, looking ahead to the rubber match. “They’ll meet again in two weeks.”

Jacob Jackson lost a tight match to Moscow in the boys singles final. He made it to the finals in dominant fashion, serving up many aces.

Patrick Rockwell and Reilly Wolfe rolled through all the rounds with huge serves and quick volleys, but couldn’t keep it going in the final against Moscow, losing a close one.

Declan Plummer and Noah Hastings, the lone underclassmen on the Bulldogs, beat the Vikings No. 1 team and put a scare into Moscow’s No. 1s en route to a fifth place finish.

“They continued to improve and impress with their athleticism, winning some great matches,” said Bulldogs head coach Kent Anderson. “We have three weeks left before Districts and I guarantee these two will be a force.”

Anderson summed up what many area coaches are feeling.

“We’re looking good but we still have a long way to go and the weather is still not cooperating,” he said.

The Bulldogs are at Troy today, and Lake City in a make-up match on Wednesday.