Superior tennis loses first match to Townsend at Townsend Duals

Rainy weather brought a cancellation into the Superior tennis girls' schedule last week. They were supposed to play Valley Christian at home on Thursday, but the weather had other plans. On Friday, the girls were at Darby and beat the team 6-1. On Saturday, however, the girls incurred their first loss of the season at the Townsend Duals. The team lost 6-0 to Townsend. They tied 3-3 against Whitehall and Fairfield at the duals, but played strong against Choteau and won 6-2.

Tennis coach Rick Berreth said they got into trouble at the duals because they were missing their number two seat player, Kiana Cox, and so the number third seat had to move up and play against their opponents number two seat.

"Equally, we were also playing some bigger B-C schools last weekend as well," Barreth said. "But when you're missing one of your players it has a trickledown effect."

Barreth said that some of the girls handled the challenge really well.

"Some adjusted pretty well. They hung in there," Barreth said. "They certainly don't give up for being a young team."

At Darby, Cary Chamberlain defeated Miriam Bender, 6-0 and 6-3. Cox defeated Natalie Krosch, going 1-6 and 7-5, 6-2 in two matches. Michele Reinelt had no troubles against Latisha Smith. She beat her 6-4 and 6-2 in the two matches. Chanel Elliott also saw victory defeating her opponent 6-0 twice.

Doubles pair Kaylee Crabb and Sarah Wuebkes found defeat for the first time against their Darby opponents. However, Catie Goodpasture and Myranda Kuhl cleaned up in their matches against Louviere and Brianna Massey winning 6-3 and 6-3. Alychia Scofield and Caitlin Coleman also found success on the court, winning 6-1 and 6-2.

Barreth said that the team has been doing very well this season, which he has found to be a pleasant surprise.

"They've been playing well," Barreth said. "They're really surprising."

One of the large goals this year is to win conference, something the team hasn't done for awhile, but has been very successful in doing in the past.

"We should be in contention for the title. We've beaten everybody in the conference," Barreth said.

He said that the team has a lot of depth in singles this year, which will be to their advantage. Barreth said that the young team should be doing well in the coming years, although after next year, the team will lose the six juniors it currently has, but he feels the immediate future is promising.

"We're steadily improving and that's what you want," Barreth said.

Against Whitehall, Chamberlain defeated Michele Schahtzemski, 8-5, and teammate Kuhl defeated Anna Talkington, 8-1. In doubles play, Goodpasture and Hilary Stevens won their set, 8-3.

In play against Fairfield, in singles, Chamberlain won her set, 8-1, and Reinelt went 8-2 to win in her set. Elliott won her set 8-5.

In singles play against Choteau, who Superior beat at the Townsend Duals, Goodpasture was deemed the victor against Tiffany Maltby by inj. default. Elliott controlled the court against Amanda Wilekes, 8-0. At doubles play, Wuebkes and Crabb won 8-3 in their set. Stevens and Kuhl were also victorious, winning 8-5.

The match on Monday was rained out by showers. However, the Superior girls are scheduled to play at home for the final time this season on Friday against Fort Benton. On Saturday, May 8, they will play in the Best of the West Tournament, which will take place at the University of Missoula in Missoula.