Panthers fall in team regional

HUXLEY — Creston’s first fall girls tennis season came to a close Saturday in a 5-0 loss to host Ballard in a Class 1A girls team regional opener.

No doubles matches were played as the Bombers clinched the win with their fifth singles win. (Each dual has six singles and three doubles match for nine total matches.)

At the time play was halted, Creston’s Marlee Stalker was in a competitive battle at No. 2 singles. Ballard’s Zoe Wilson was leading 7-5, 4-3.

Creston did not win any sets, but several sets ended in 6-3 or 6-4 scores, and Savannah Jaques lost a 7-5 set in her match with Ballard’s Reagan Remsburg at No. 5 singles. The Panthers were without No. 1 singles player Hollynn Rieck because of a volleyball conflict.

“Saturday was a great day to play tennis, unfortunately Ballard ended up being too much for our team,” Creston coach Kevin Cooper said. It was a great learning experience for our team, and we return a lot of experience next year."

Cooper loses seniors Rieck and Jaques from his regular varsity lineup, but the team does return six players who had varsity experience this season — Kennedy Strider, Marlee Stalker, Shaylee Coen, Brooke Huck, Ali Gordy and Janessa Pokorny.

The boys tennis season will be held next spring. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union was the only high school association that switched to fall tennis.

Ballard 5, Creston 0

Singles — Addy Agena (Ballard) def. Kennedy Strider (Creston) 6-4, 6-3; Zoe Wilson (Ballard) def. Marlee Stalker (Creston), 7-5, 4-3 (not completed); Anja Tjernagel (Ballard) def. Shaylee Coen (Creston), 6-1, 6-4; Siene Roush (Ballard) def. Brooke Huck (Creston), 6-0, 6-1; Reagan Remsberg (Ballard) def. Savannah Jaques 6-1, 7-5; Josie Oldenkamp (Ballard) def. Ali Gordy (Creston), 6-4, 6-3.