Despite mostly losses coming away from their first matches of the season, the Libby High School girls and boys tennis teams played hard and walked away with valuable experience for many players new to the sport, said Head Coach Kyle Hannah

With only two returning players and 10 days of tennis practice under their belts, Hannah said the boys team had a great learning experience at Polson.

In Sebo Sanders’ loss to Hamilton’s Alex Raymond, his second match of the day, he faced a favorite to win state.

“The scores do not reflect how hard everyone played, but the experience gained will show up as the season progresses,” Hannah said.

Against Polson, new players among the girls filled in well in the absence of two starters, Hannah said. New player Abigail Creighton started the season undefeated after playing through her nerves in her first set.

Morgan and Madison Synder teamed up to keep Morgan Synder’s undefeated record for matches played at Polson.

Isabelle Martineau started the day with a three-hour match against Polson’s Shea McGuinness.

“Isabelle lost a fantastic three hour match that could have gone either way,” Hannah said.

Against Hamilton, Martineau lost in what Hannah said was the highest quality match of the day. Both Martineau and Hamilton’s Sarah Trinh kept the ball in play through tough shots from one another.

“Just like the boys, the girls played hard and this day will be an important building block for the season,” he said.

Libby Tennis March 23

Boys

Polson 7, Libby 0

Singles

No. 1 Johnny Moore, P, d. Sebo Sanders, L, 6-0, 6-2

No. 2 Kaiden Forman-Webster, P, d. Zach Carter, L, 6-0, 6-2

No. 3 Kendal Forman-Webster, P, d. Ryker McElmurry, L, 6-0, 6-0

No. 4 Anton Lefthand, P, d. David Patterson, L, 6-4, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1 Carson McDaniel and San Schultz, P, d. David Patterson and Zack Morrison, L, 6-0, 6-1

No. 2 Trever Schultz and Joe McDonald, P, d. Cayman Lee and Colton Halverson, L, 6-0, 6-0

No. 3 McKauly Morison and Alex Mausshardt, P, d. Ryker McElmurry and Zack Morrison, L, 6-2, 6-4

Hamilton 6, Libby 1

Singles

No. 1 Alex Raymond, H, d. Sebo Sanders, L, 6-0, 60-

No. 2 Rory Allison, H, d. Zach Carter, L, 6-3, 6-2

No. 3 Sam Toenies, H, d. Cayman Lee, L, 6-0, 6-0

No. 4 Khang Truons, H, d. Sebo Sanders, L, 6-2, 2-6, 2-6

Doubles

No. 1 Cody Kirkloride and Rio Hammond, H, d. Ryker McElmurry and David Patterson, L, 6-0, 6-0

No. 2 Will Torres and Phil Melnaint, H, d. Zack Morrison and Colton Halverson, L, 6-0, 6-0

No. 3 Ryker McElmurry and David Patterson, L, d. Alex Jung and Bodie Hanson, H, 6-1, 6-4

Girls

Polson 5, Libby 2

Polson

No. 1 Shea McGuinness, P, d. Isabelle Martineau, L, 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(3)

No. 2 Berkely Ellis, P, d. Ciera Lucas, L, 6-2, 6-1

No. 3 Sharmaine Zerrpel, P, d. Starlyn Mayberry, L, 6-4, 7-5

No. 4 Abigail Creighton, L, d. Briala Forman, P, 7-5, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1 Kyker Lundeen and Qia Harlan, P, d. Jessika Jones and Marissa Wood, L,

No. 2 Morgan Synder and Madison Synder, L, d. Elizabeth Violett and Megan Rost, P, 6-2, 6-3

No. 3 Megan Rost and Ara Mercer, P, d. Elise Erickson and Ivy Rose Pierce, L, 6-2, 6-3

Libby 5, Hamilton 2

Singles

No. 1 Sarah Trinh, H, d. Isabelle Martineau, L, 6-3, 7-5

No. 2 Morgan Synder, L, d. Holly Mahon, H, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1

No. 3 Abigail Creighton, L, d. Colleen May, H, 8-4 (Hamilton forfeit)

No. 4 Lauren Kimzey, H, d. Elise Erickson, L, 7-1 (Hamilton forfeit)

Doubles

No. 1 Jessika Jones and Marissa Wood, L, d. Colleen May and Mia Simatovic, H, 7-5, 6-4

No. 2 Lauren Kimzey and Claire Matthews, H, d. Annika Thorstenson and Sally Weber, L, 6-1, 6-1

No. 3 Janina Daep and Gabby Fantozzi, L, d. Hamilton forfeit