Two Panther wins at regional

PELLA — Creston was unable to advance anyone to the girls state tennis tournament in regional play Wednesday, but not without a couple of good victories.

Picking up first round wins were sophomore Marlee Stalker in singles and the doubles duo of senior Hollynn Rieck and Kennedy Strider. Eliminated in first-round action were Shaylee Coen in singles and the doubles team of Brook Huck and Savannah Jaques.

Rieck and Strider defeated Lauren Davis and Halle Husted of Davis County, 6-3, 6-2. No. 2-seeded Reagan DeJong and Addison VanWyk of Pella then ousted the Panther duo, 6-0, 6-2.

Stalker nearly advanced out of her second round match. She won 6-0, 6-2 over Jazlyn Wesley of Chariton. Culee Smith of Davis County, the tournament’s second seed, then beat Stalker in a close one, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

“Today was an up and down day for us,” Creston coach Kevin Cooper said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to secure a state qualifier spot. It was a great experience for all of our girls to face great competition at every spot. It was great for Hollynn and Kennedy to get a first round win. Unfortunately they drew right into the number two seed from Pella and they were a high quality team that ended up being state qualifiers.”

Cooper was impressed with Stalker’s showing in regional singles as a sophomore.

“Marlee played very well today. She was able to get a win over the Chariton number on girl in the first round,” Cooper said. “In her second round she lost a close match to the two seed from Davis County. Marlee ended up losing the second set in a tiebreaker right before the rain. She was right there with a great player the whole time. Hopefully at this time next year we are talking about her being the seeded player.”

Cooper said Coen drew the No. 1 seed in the first round, who lost only three games the whole day on the way to a regional championship.

The Panthers play at Ballard Saturday in a team regional match.

Singles — Marlee Stalker (Creston) def. Jazlyn Wesley (Chariton), 6-0, 6-2; Culee Smith (Davis County) def. Stalker (Creston), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

Singles — Lea Patrick (Davenport Assumption) def. Shaylee Coen (Creston), 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles — Hollynn Rieck-Kennedy Strider (Creston) def. Lauren Davis-Halle Husted (Davis County), 6-3, 6-2; Reagan DeJong-Addison VanWyk (Pella) def. Rieck-Strider (Creston), 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles — Charley Dilulio-Julia Reagan (Assumption) def. Brooke Huck-Savannah Jaques (Creston), 6-1, 6-1.