Lady Lynx secure Metro’s runner-up honors
By:
Jill Meier, Journal editor
Jill Meier/BV Journal
Bella Schultz, flight 1 singles, returns a shot during Metro Conference play Saturday at the McKennan Park courts in Sioux Falls. The Lady Lynx scored runner-up honors.
Although Brandon Valley positioned themselves to play for just two Metro Conference flight championships on Saturday, the Lady Lynx tennis team claimed runner-up honors. BV’s second-place finish was thanks to a wealth of second- and third-places won by the Lynx and O’Gorman, who missed out on points in the top flights due to the absence of the No. 1 player from Saturday’s lineup. O’G’s misfortune allowed the Lynx to out-score the Knights in the top flights, which carry the most weight in points.
“I was proud of the ladies’ efforts Saturday and pleasantly surprised that we finished second overall,” BV head coach Adam Rothenberger said.
BV’s Addy Jackson (flight 3 singles/flight 1 doubles) had a hand in both of BV’s two second-place finishes. In singles action, Jackson overcame O’G’s Ashlynn Garry behind her 6-4, 6-3 set victories in her opening match. That set the stage for the title match against Lincoln’s Elle Dobbs, who carved out 6-0, 6-1 set wins.
In doubles play, she teamed up with senior Bella Schultz to nab runner-up honors. The Lady Lynx duo opened with hard-fought 7-6,(5), 7-6(3) victory over O’G’s C. Bender and J. Smith, before succumbing to Lincoln’s J. Brower/A. Leonard with back-to-back 6-1 losses.
BV’s remaining seven flights all earned third place.
Following Tuesday’s run to repeat as Eastern South Dakota Conference champs, the Lady Lynx will wrap up their 2020 season Oct. 8 and 9 at the Class AA state tournament, which will be played in Rapid City.
Coming off their runner-up finish in the Metro, the Lady Lynx head into the state tournament with great optimism.
“I felt all of the girls made gains against opponents they had lost to earlier in the season, which I hope will give them the confidence to play at their best,” Rothenberger said.
Metro Conference
Team score: 1.) SF Lincoln 71; 2.) Brandon Valley 52.5; 3.) SF Roosevelt 44.5; 4.) O’Gorman 44.5; 5.) SF Washington 23.5.
Singles: Flight 1 – Katelyn Nesheim (SFW) def. Bella Schultz (BV) 6-2, 6-4; Schultz def. Ellie Thie 10-4. Third place.
Flight 2 – Sidney Breit (O’G) def. Michaela Jerke (BV) 2-6, 6-0, 11-9; Jerke (BV) def. Danica Hubers (SFR) 10-5. Third place.
Flight 3 – Addy Jackson (BV) def. Ashlyn Garry (O’G) 6-4, 6-3; Elle Dobbs (SFL) def. Jackson 6-0. 6-1. Second place.
Flight 4 – Avery Blackman (SFL) def. Marie Pelletier (BV) 6-2, 6-4; Pelletier def. Abbie Mayer (SFW) 10-2. Third place.
Flight 5 – CC Bender (O’G) def. Kenzie Polasky (BV) 6-2, 7-5; Polasky def. Emma Reck (SFW) 10-1. Third place.
Flight 6 – Grace Abdallah (O’G) def. Adriauna Alexander (BV) 7-6(5), 6-2; Alexander def. Sydney Sieler (SFW) 10-0. Third place.
Doubles: Flight 1 – B. Schultz/A. Jackson (BV) def. C. Bender/J. Smith (O’G) 7-6(5), 7-6(3); J. Brower/A. Leonard (SFL) def. Schultz/Jackson 6-1, 6-1. Second place.
Flight 2 – S. Breit/A. Garry (O’G) def. M. Jerke/M. Pelletier (BV) 7-6(5), 6-1; Jerke/Pelletier (BV) def. A. Mayer/J. Fields (SFW) 10-1. Third place.
Flight 3 – Quello/Crawford (SFL) def. Izzy Stone/A. Alexander 6-2,6-3; Stone/Alexander def. Reck/Baltz (SFW) 10-5. Third place.
