MCHS tennis squads drop two to BGA

On Wednesday afternoon at the Lewisburg Recreation Center, the youthful MCHS tennis team took on Battle Ground Academy (BGA) and after some tough matches in the Tigers' fifth event of the season, the boys fell 2-5, while the girls also lost 1-6 to the Wildcat netters.

The only victory on the girls' side was turned in by senior Sarah Tietgens in one of the best matches of the event.

Tietgens led early before going into a lull, but the high-charged Tietgens rallied back to win (9-7) over Grace Patton.

"Our number one's played the best matches they have played all year and I think playing a tough team like BGA will certainly help everyone on the team as we get in to district play," said MCHS head coach Dickie Adkins.

In a close two-slotted match, Lauren Blackmon fell to Leslie Douglas (5-8) and then teamed up with Tietgens for a spirited (7-9) loss to Patton and Hannah Gilliam in doubles action.

Mary Beth Brannon lost in the No. 3 spot, (2-5) to Gilliam in singles, while Courtney Beardsley was blanked (0-8) by Lindsey Landrum and Callie Johnson lost (1-8) to Caroline Rector in the final singles match.

Tigerette netters Brooklyn Brown and Jordan Bailey teamed up in doubles, but were beaten (1-8) by Patton and Landrum for the 1-6 final score.

Tiger No. 1 seed Justin Killian showed his talent, experience, and meddle as he overcame a deficit in his match before storming back with his power and finesse game to overcome Conner McShain (8-6).

Later on, Killian would team up with Patrick Kennedy in doubles action and the Tiger duo forged a 9-7 comeback win over McShain and Timmy Jordan.

Kennedy, playing in the No. 2 singles' slot battled before losing (8-6) to Jordan, and in another close contest, MCHS' three-seeded Eric Martin fell (9-7) to Blake Thomson.

In the four slot, Austin Mowell lost (1-8) to BGA's Richard Klausner and Chris Wells dropped a (1-8) decision to Bo Kennedy.

In the second boys' doubles match, Caleb Cashion and Dustin Lyons tried to grind out a win, but fell (5-8) to Klausner and Alexander Golla.

"We have a young team," said Adkins. "Starting some freshman, things like that, we can only get better. It is a little different from middle school. People hit a little harder and they are a little smarter at the net, we just have to learn by getting this kind of experience."

The girls' loss gave them a 3-2 record on the season, while the boys fell below .500, dropping to 2-3 on the season.

"We hope to be peaking at tournament time," said Adkins. "And having a great assistant like Jason Donahue, who has been with me a long time, helps and he worked great with the kids today."