Girls tennis finishes eighth at state

The girls tennis squad took four players Juhree Kizziar and Katie Ryan (singles), and doubles duo Sophie Rush and Shae Wyland, to the state tennis championships held at the Oregon State Campus in Corvallis Thursday through Saturday, May 23-25. The Lady Outlaws finished eighth out of 21 teams in attendance.

Katie Ryan dominated play and blanked Kendal Wilson of Henley 6-0, 6-0, in her first match round on Thursday.

Coach Bruce Fenn said, “That was the best tennis I’ve seen Katie play all year. Her serves were hit with pace, which got her some free points. Her ground strokes were hit deep and into the corners of the courts. Wilson had no answers for Katie’s consistent punishing ground strokes.”

Ryan’s match on Friday in the second round against No. 3 seed Whitney Hidden of Marist was a different story. There were some heated rallies in the match, but Ryan was unable to hit with enough pace and depth to stay in the games. She was defeated 0-6, 0-6, which brought her tournament play to an end.

“It was a great year for senior Katie, who repeated as a second-time state qualifier,” said Fenn.

Juhree Kizziar earned a first round bye, and in the second round played a tough round against Adele Beckstead of Philomath. Kizziar came out on top 6-1, 6-3. Fenn told The Nugget that every round had drama, with rallies of 20 strokes or more until Beckstead would hit the ball in the net.

Kizziar served big, attacked the net on short balls, and put away beautiful volleys.

“Juhree’s overall game has improved in every area,” said Fenn. “That includes serves, ground strokes, volleys, and movement. Each shot has more pace and consistency.”

In the quarterfinals Kizziar fell 0-6, 0-6, to No. 2 seed Reagan Farm of North Bend, which brought an end to her play in the tournament.

Fenn said, “Losing to Farm was a learning experience for Juhree. When you play big hitters who are attacking short balls for winners, it teaches the importance of hitting deep shots every time. It was fun to watch two athletic girls playing the game they love.”

In doubles play, Shae Wyland stepped in for Leah O’Hern and teamed up with Sophie Rush. The pair lost 1-6, 1-6, in Thursday’s round to Suelze and Withers of Cascade.

The duo moved into consolation play where matches were all eight-game pro sets up to the finals. Rush and Wyland defeated Picket and Button of Marshfield 9-7 in the quarterfinals in a nail biter. With the score tied at 6-6, Sisters won the next point and went up 7-6, but Marshfield came back and knotted it up again at 7-7. Rush and Wyland stayed focused and went up 8-7. Wyland served and Rush put volleys away at the net to win the match and advance to the semi finals.

Fenn said, “The Sisters duo has settled into a nice routine where Wyland hits looping high strokes over the heads of the net players and Rush moves into the net and hits winners at the net.”

The pair advanced to the consolation semifinals and fell 0-8 to the  No. 2 seed Mehta and Kim. Fenn noted that Rush and Wyland returned serves well and made minimal unforced errors, but the difference between the two teams was that Mehta and Kim were more aggressive at the net.

Of his four players who made it to state Fenn said, “They were great friends and supported each other in their matches. This experience will last them a lifetime of fun memories.”