Panther girls move to 3-0

H10 play opens Tuesday at home

Creston's Shaylee Coen hits a passing shot against Shanntel Larrington of Chariton during her 8-1 singles victory Thursday. Coen also went 2-0 in singles and doubles in Friday's win over Audubon.

Winning seven of nine matches, the Creston girls tennis team improved to 3-0 in dual meets with a home victory over Audubon Friday.

“It was nice to have our entire roster at our match with Audubon,” Creston coach Kevin Cooper said. “It was a great morning for tennis and and to come out with the win.”

Savannah Jaques of Creston hits a serve against Audubon on Thursday. Jaques won 8-6 and fell 8-6 in a tiebreaker against Audubon on Friday for the Panthers.

Friday’s win came 24 hours after shutting out visiting Chariton on Thursday, 9-0. Earlier in the week, Creston placed seventh in a tough field at the Knoxville Tournament, led by the seventh-place finish by the doubles team of sophomores Marlee Stalker and Shaylee Coen.

“The girls played well against Audubon,” Cooper said. “Each time we get to play, the girls improve and get more and more acclimated to their position in the lineup. It was also nice for some of our newer payers to get out there and get a match. The Knoxville tournament was a challenging experience for our team. Three of our girls had never played this level of competition before. It was a great learning experience with lots of tennis played at a great facility. Marlee and Shaylee went 3-2 for the day in placing seventh.”

Hollynn Rieck punches a volley at the net in front of teammate Kennedy Strider during their doubles win Thursday against Chariton. Rieck and Strider went 4-0 in singles and doubles against Chariton and Audubon on Friday.

The Panthers begin another busy week Tuesday at home against Red Oak at 4:30 p.m. before another Hawkeye Ten meet Thursday at Shenandoah. Creston finishes the week at the Saydel Invitational at 9 a.m. Friday.

Creston 7, Audubon 2

Singles — Hollynn Rieck (Cr) def. Marie Boehrn (A), 8-4; Kennedy Strider (Cr) def. Makenna Nichols (A), 8-1; Marlee Stalker (Cr) def. Vivian Jackson (A), 8-1; Shaylee Coen (Cr) def. Lena Rieman (A), 8-5; Brooke Huck (Cr) def. Regan Hoffman (A), 8-5; Emma Reinhardt (A) def. Savannah Jaques (Cr), 9-8 (8-6 tiebreaker).

Doubles — Rieck-Strider (Cr) def. Boehrn-Nichols (A), 8-1; Stalker-Coen (Cr) def. Jackson-Rieman (A), 8-2; Hoffman-Reinhardt (A) def. Huck-Jaques (Cr), 8-3.

Creston 9, Chariton 0

Singles — Hollynn Rieck (Cr) def. Jazlyn Wesley (Ch), 8-1; Kennedy Strider (Cr) def. Paisley Larrington (Ch), 8-2; Marlee Stalker (Cr) def. Julia Gonthier (Ch), 8-3; Shaylee Coen (Cr) def. Shanntel Larrington (Ch), 8-1; Savannah Jaques (Cr) def. Loralye Rippel (Ch), 8-6; Ali Gordy (Cr) def. Addison Caudill (Ch), 8-4.

Creston's Ali Gordy reaches for a return shot at the net during her 8-4 singles win Thursday against Audubon.

Doubles — Rieck-Strider (Cr) def. Wesley-P. Larrington (Ch), 8-2; Stalker-Coen (Cr) def. Gonthier-Larrington (Ch), 8-2; Jaques-Gordy (Cr) def. Rippell-Caudill (Ch), 8-4.

Knoxville Tournament

Team scoring — 1. Pella 119; 2. Newton 64; 3. Knoxville 58; 4. Clarke 25; 5. Ballard 23; 6. Saydel 16; 7. Creston 10.

Singles — Brooke Sterling (Newton) def. Kennedy Strider (Cr), 4-3 (5-1), 4-0; Lizzy Nicholson (Saydel) def. Kennedy Strider (Cr), 6-2. Brooke Huck (Cr) def. Addi Matthias (Knoxville), 4-3 (5-1), 4-0; Morgan Frehse (Newton) def. Brooke Huck (Cr), 4-0, 4-0; Aryanna Hewlett (Clarke) def. Brooke Huck (Cr), 6-4.

Doubles — Marlee Stalker-Shaylee Coen (Cr) def. Ava Williams-Camryn Andrew (Newton), 4-0, 4-1; Mylee Miller-Emily Glenn (Clarke) def. Stalker-Coen (Cr), 4-2, 5-4 (5-4); Stalker-Coen (Cr) def. Regaen Remsburg-Josie Oldenkamp (Ballard), 7-6 (7-5); Addy Agena-Zoe Wilson (Ballard) def. Stalker-Coen (Cr), 6-1; Stalker-Coen (Cr) def. Brylee Woolsey-Ala Williams (Knoxville), 6-3. Savannah Jaques-Janessa Pokorny (Cr) def. Brooklyn Schroeder-Sidney Stout (Saydel), 4-0, 4-1; Addison Vanquk-Reagan Dejong (Pella) def. Jaques-Pokorny (Cr), 4-0, 4-0; Brylee Woosley-Ayla Williams (Knoxville) def. Jaques-Pokorny (Cr), 7-6 (7-2).

Larry Peterson

LARRY PETERSON

Former senior feature writer at Creston News Advertiser and columnist. Previous positions include sports editor for many years and assistant editor. Also a middle school basketball coach in Creston.