Girls tennis starts week with win

The Lady Outlaws won all their matches against Corbett at home on Tuesday, April 12, and then played a friendly match with Henley at home on Friday, in preparation for the Madras Invitational on Saturday.

In Tuesday's match against Corbett, Lacey Gilmore (No. 1 singles) matched up against Carli Berghoff, Corbett's biggest threat. Gilmore defeated Berghoff 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Gilmore struggled a bit in the first set, but came back strong in the second with a 5-1 lead. Berghoff wouldn't quit, and brought the score to 5-4 before Lacey sealed the deal at 6-4.

"This was a great win for Lacey," said Coach Susan Fullhart. "After taking a 2-0 lead in the first set, she started to struggle. She was missing shots she wouldn't normally miss, and just wasn't feeling it. She dug deep and just willed herself to make balls, and consequently took the first set in a tight tie-breaker."

In every other match, the Outlaws dominated. Hawley Harrer (No. 2 singles) defeated Frewoni Berhane 6-0, 6-1, and Mykaila Hartman defeated Sara Gradwohl 6-0, 6-1. In the No. 4 spot, Mary Florian beat Anna Bidonda 6-1, 6-1.

The doubles teams also tallied a sweep. Alana Lukens and Anni Stadeli (No. 1 doubles) defeated Clare Dearixon and Camille Wilcox 6-1, 6-0, and Engracia Diez and Emily Skalda (No. 2 doubles) beat Anna Bidondo and Emmy Bunnell 6-1, 6-1. At No. 3 doubles, Hogan Hernandez and Taylor Eagan defeated Amanda Hendricks and Leila Gorman 6-1, 6-0. Devry Grace and Trinity Diaz (No. 4 doubles) wrapped it up with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jane Hawley and Natalie Arneson.

In the friendly match-up with Henley on Friday, teams didn't even exchange rosters. The Lady Hornets No. 1 doubles team won state last year, but those two players split up and played singles on Friday. Lacey Gilmore lost 6-0, 6-0, to their best player. Hawley Harrer beat the other half of that state champion duo team 7-5. They only played one set because both players were dealing with some injury issues.

Anni Stadeli and Alana Lukens lost at No. 1 doubles 6-3, 6-1, and Engracia Diez and Mykaila Hartman played great at No. 1 doubles and won the match 7-6, (7-3), 6-4.

"I guess you could say we tied 2-2, but it was not really a match, but more of a warm-up for Madras."

The Lady Outlaws had a rough time at Madras the following day. Due to prom and injuries, many players were unable to attend.