Omaha Skutt has three-peat in its sight

 No comments  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

BY TOMMY DAHLK / Lincoln Journal Star

What happened during the first day of the Class B Girls Tennis State Tournament Thursday at the Nebraska Tennis Center didn’t surprise anyone.

As expected, Omaha Skutt put itself in position to bring home its third straight team title, Beatrice’s two doubles teams remained unbeaten on the year, and last year’s No. 1 doubles champions advanced to the semifinals once again.

Skutt’s Mary Lausten, the top seed in No. 1 singles, and Alexis Kaiser, a top seed in No. 2 singles, easily advanced to today’s semifinals. The SkyHawks’ No. 1 doubles team of Christine Bolas and Julianne Kincaid survived Thursday’s first three rounds, as well.

The only other team to have a chance to win three events is Omaha Duchesne, who is alive in every event except No. 1 doubles.

Omaha Skutt coach Sheryl Vaughn said she likes her team’s chances to clinch a three-peat.

“It’s looking pretty good,” Vaughn said.“But we aren’t going to look too far ahead. We are looking at what’s happening right now. We look at what’s happening in each point, each game and each match. We’re pretty much in the moment.”

Beatrice boasted the top seed in both doubles events and each undefeated duo advanced. The Lady Orange’s No. 1 doubles team of Mallory Johnsen and Jamie Gay didn’t lose a set Thursday and will face Bolas and Kincaid in the semifinals. Beatrice’s Amber Engler and Daleigh Fossler are still alive in No. 2 doubles after a hard-fought, three-set quarterfinal win against Skutt’s Marie Krause and Margaret Carmody.

“I’m really happy with how far we got so far, and we’ll see what happens,” Beatrice coach Phil Cook said.

Kearney Catholic’s Molly Heeney and Nickola Messbarger, who won last year’s No. 1 doubles title, will have a chance to repeat today after three straight-set victories. However, Heeney and Messbarger are pitted against Grand Island Central Catholic’s Hannah Bolton and Jessica Wojcik in the semifinals. Bolton won the No. 2 doubles last year, and the Crusaders’ No. 1 team beat Heeney and Messbarger twice during the regular season.

Heeney and Messbarger, good friends with Bolton and Wojcik, said they really didn’t play their best tennis in the previous two matches.

“I’d rather play someone you don’t know and aren’t friends with,” Heeney said. “But it will be fun, and I’m excited.”

Reach Tommy Dahlk at 473-7431 or tdahlk@journalstar.com.