Bulldogs able to down Trojans despite dropping 4 matches by tiebreaker

POST FALLS — The girls stole the show for Sandpoint tennis during Thursday's match at Post Falls.

In singles and doubles, the girls won four of five matches to propel the Bulldogs to a 7-5 win over the Trojans.

"The girls were awesome today," head coach Kent Anderson said. "I thought this was going to be a rebuilding year, but it's not. They just keep winning."

In their first home match of the season on March 17, the Bulldogs overpowered Post Falls 10-2. But on Thursday, four matches went into third-set tiebreakers and Sandpoint lost all of them.

"That just shows how close those matches were," Anderson said. "Just a lucky bounce somewhere and we win all four, but all-in-all it was a great day. Our top players dominated like they have been all year, so I'm pretty happy with how they are doing. It looks like if they keep this up, we're going to have a pretty nice state run."

At No. 1 singles for the girls, freshman Neva Reseska picked up a 6-3, 6-0 win, and Maise Brazill secured a 6-1, 6-3 victory at the No. 2 spot.

"Neva got into a baseline battle with her opponent and she just overpowered her," Anderson said. "She's just way too consistent."

Junior captains Olivia Petruso and Denali Terry continued their undefeated start to the season at No. 1 doubles with a 6-1, 6-0 win. At the No. 2 spot, the pairing of Maile Evans and Berkeley Cox continued to show plenty of chemistry by grabbing a comfortable 6-4, 6-0 victory.

On the boys side, the Bulldogs swept doubles play thanks to the pairings of Josh Embree and Christian Story, and Tyler Korn and Carter Johnson. Both pairings remained undefeated on the season and didn't allow their opponents to take a single game off of them, cruising to 6-0, 6-0 wins.

Tyler McNamee tallied a 6-1, 6-0 victory for Sandpoint at No. 2 singles.

Charlie Johnson played in the match of the day at No. 1 singles, Anderson said, going back and forth with Isaac Gondo, a power hitter from Post Falls. He fell 7-5, 4-6 (10-4).

"They just battled out every point," Anderson said. "It was the longest match of the day and one of the games went 11 deuces."

Sandpoint was swept in mixed doubles and lost both matches in a third-set tiebreaker.

The Bulldogs host Moscow at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Travers Park.

Sandpoint 7, Post Falls 5.

Sandpoint athletes in bold

BOYS SINGLES — No. 1 Isaac Gondo d. Charlie Johnson, 7-5, 4-6 (10-4). No. 2 Tyler McNamee d. Cole Ditto, 6-1, 6-0. No. 3 Cayden Wrublik d. Josh Jessen, 6-3, 6-2.

BOYS DOUBLES — No. 1 Josh Embree/Christian Story d. Nic McLeod/Ryan Nearing, 6-0, 6-0. No. 2 Tyler Korn/Carter Johnson d. Noah Meredith/Austin Mayo, 6-0, 6-0.

GIRLS SINGLES — No. 1 Neva Reseska d. Emily Schlothauer, 6-3, 6-0. No. 2 Maise Brazill d. Mattie Martenson, 6-1, 6-3. No. 3 Ryleah Plumeah d. Adrian Doty, 7-5, 4-6 (10-2).

GIRLS DOUBLES — No. 1 Olivia Petruso/Denali Terry d. Melanie Fry/Addie Muir, 6-1, 6-0. No. 2 Maile Evans/Berkeley Cox d. Liberty Ortega/Madi Barkley, 6-4, 6-0.

MIXED DOUBLES — No. 1 Jacob Ditto/Laura Moler d. Brahma Heitz/Patch Howard, 5-7, 6-4 (10-5). No. 2 Brady Christensen/Claire Holding d. Aden Heitz/Elly Pincher, 6-3, 6-6 (7-5), (10-8).