Girls tennis falls short at individual regionals

RED OAK — The Panthers traveled to Red Oak Monday for the girls individual regionals but came away without any state qualifiers.

“Today did not go the way we wanted it to go,” coach Kevin Cooper said. “We really felt like we could have multiple groups in the semifinals, where the winner of that match would be a state qualifier. We just couldn’t find the consistency needed to compete at this high of a level.”

In singles, Ava Adamson and Kennedy Strider each won their first matches before falling in the second.

Adamson defeated Mariel Ramirez of Red Oak 6-0 and 6-3 before falling 6-2 and 6-2 to Hannah Higgins of Clarinda.

Strider topped Rowan Jackson of St. Albert 6-0 and 6-3 before falling 6-1 and 6-0 to runner up Riley Nothwehr of Clarinda.

In doubles, the duo of Sasha Wurster and Hollynn Rieck went to three sets in both matches.

In the first, they defeated Alivia Higgins and Chandry Nothweher of Clarinda 6-3, but then fell 6-2 in set two. The Panthers won the tiebreaker to advance.

Against Jaylyn Gray and Brooke Hays of Shenandoah, the Creston duo narrowly lost the first set 7-6. They came back to win 6-3 in set two but lost in the tiebreaker.

Marlee Staler and Shalyee Coen competed in doubles for the Panthers were they fell in round one in two sets to Ellie Cole and Taylin Walter of Clarinda.

Though the Panthers are out of contention for individual state, the Class 1A region 2 bracket begins Friday where the Panther team will face Atlantic.

The winner would advance to compete Tuesday in Shenandoah against either Glenwood, Red Oak or Clarinda.

Clarinda is favored to advance over Glenwood and Red Oak based on Hawkeye 10 results.