April 18, 2024

Girls tennis starts with shut-out over Chariton

By CHEYENNE ROCHE

Creston junior Josie Mahan returns a serve against Charity Wilcox of Chariton. Mahan won the set easily in an 8-0 shut-out. (CNA photo by CHEYENNE ROCHE)

The lady Panthers got their tennis season start on a blustery spring day Monday as they hosted Chariton in what would end up being a 9-0 shut out.

“It was a great way to start out our season by getting the win tonight,” Creston Coach Kevin Cooper said. “It started in normal fashion with cold temperatures and high winds.”

While five of the singles made easy work of their opponents, Creston and Chartion’s top players faced off in a back-and-forth battle for the win. The seniors, Panther Caitlin Bruce and Charger Grace Watkins, played 17 games before Bruce earned the win in a 7-2 tiebreaker victory.

Creston senior and top player, Caitlin Bruce, serves to Chariton senior Grace Watkins. After a back-and-forth battle, Bruce won a tie-breaker match 7-2 to seal the 9-8 victory over her opponent. (CNA photo by CHEYENNE ROCHE)

Creston’s Josie Mahan (No. 2), Brooklyn McKinney (No. 4) and Sasha Wurster (No. 5) all took down their opponents in 8-0 shut-outs.

Ava Adamson (No. 3) and Kolbey Bailey (No. 6) took commanding 8-1 victories.

McKinney continued her shut-out streak in doubles with partner Bailey as they defeated the duo of Jocelyn Pierschbacher and Tori Neer 8-0.

The top two doubles faced off in an 8-4 Creston victory with Bruce and Mahan getting the win over Chariton’s Watkins and Charity Wilcox.

Adamson and Wurster found a 8-2 victory over Delaney Caudill and Lucy Stratton.

“I thought our girls played well,” Cooper said. “We have a lot to work on in order to keep improving every night.”

The girls return to action tonight at Red Oak where they fell in last year’s season opener in a 9-0 sweep.

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Cheyenne Roche

CHEYENNE ROCHE

Originally from Wisconsin, Cheyenne has a journalism and political science degree from UW-Eau Claire and a passion for reading and learning. She lives in Creston with her husband and their two little dogs.