PREP TENNIS: Sandpoint clinches regular season conference title

— Extended Recap

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint swept in girls singles and doubles, boys doubles, and mixed doubles to defeat the Bears and clinch the 4A Inland Empire regular season title on Thursday at Travers Park.

“We were firing on all cylinders,” head coach Kent Anderson said. 

The girls singles lineup was especially dominant, giving up a total of just three games.

“Pepper (Rickert), Neva (Reseska) and Bella (Bailey) were basically flawless using pinpoint placement, great court coverage and powerful serves.”

In girls doubles, Moscow fielded a strong doubles lineup, but was no match for the Bulldogs. Duos Sydney Webb and Aubrey Knowles and Mya Vorhies and Lily Evans both picked up wins; Vorhies and Evans’ match was the only one that went to three sets on the day, and the pair finally pulled out a win after a two-hour long battle.

In boys singles, all three matches were hotly contested. In the No. 1 spot, Jacob Dawson, after winning his first set, came back from a 4-1 deficit in the second to capture a victory. 

“Jacob was able to regroup and return to strong, fundamental tennis as he reeled off five straight games to win an impressive 6-4 match,” Anderson said.

Matthew Norton used his trademark solid ground strokes to overpower his opponent in the No. 2 spot. Anderson said when he is "shaping the ball" the way he was Thursday, there’s not a lot his opponents can do offensively. 

In mixed doubles, Anderson said Noah Spinney was moving especially well at the net, putting away balls, which were set up by Berkeley Cox’s "crushing groundies." The two dominated in the second set en route to victory.

In the No. 2 spot, Ellie Tutin and Brennan Johnson played their second match together and pulled out a tough win. 

“Ellie is playing so fundamentally solid and her scorching cross court game gives the opponents very little to work with,” Anderson said. “Brennan hits with pure power, keeping opponents from hitting off their back foot. Both mixed teams prevailing in straight set is not an easy thing to do against Moscow. We’ll face Moscow’s lineup in a week at the district championships. I know they’ll be gunning for us but we’ll be ready … as always.”

Sandpoint will host Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy on Monday.

Sandpoint 11, Moscow 1

BOYS SINGLES — No. 1 Jacob Dawson, SPT, d. Wyatt Thornycroft, 7-5, 6-4. No. 2 Matthew Norton, SPT, d. Jack Landis, by default. No. 3 Andrew Elder, MOS, d. Noah Wagner, 6-3, 7-6.

GIRLS SINGLES — No. 1 Pepper Rickert, SPT, d. Cate Gloeckner, 6-0, 6-0. No. 2 Neva Reseska, SPT, d. Natalie Godfrey, 6-0, 6-1. No. 3 Bella Bailey, SPT, d. Jacquee Williams, 6-2, 6-0.

BOYS DOUBLES — No. 1 Ethan Ballard/Nathan Duke, SPT, d. Tanner Fealy/Jerry Balembah, 6-0, 6-3. No. 2 Caden Martz/Fisher Dail, SPT, d. Eli Ting/Ty Kindelspire, by default.

GIRLS DOUBLES — No. 1 Sydney Webb/Aubrey Knowles, SPT, d. Abbie Duke/Millie Richards, 6-1, 6-4. No. 2 Lily Evans/Mya Vorhies, SPT, d.Alyssa Halvorson/Petra Kennedy, 6-2, 3-6, 10-6.

MIXED DOUBLES — No. 1 Berkeley Cox/Noah Spinney, SPT, d. Nick Odberg/Audrey Pollard, 7-5, 6-1. No. 2 Elly Tutin/Brennan Johnson, SPT, d. Hayden Wilson, Ben Nuhn, 6-4, 6-3.