Troy netters top Libby JV; packs in matches at Loyola Invite
BRANDON HANSEN Hagadone News Network | The Western News | UPDATED 2 hours, 11 minutes AGO
Troy’s tennis team packed a week’s worth of competition into two chilly outings, rolling past Libby’s junior varsity squad 9-2 on April 14 before heading to Missoula on April 17 for the Loyola Invite, where the Trojans continued to show growth against a deep field.
Coach Ed Sedler said Troy handled Libby’s JV in quick fashion despite cold, damp conditions that turned increasingly wet as the match went on. The win gave the Trojans a successful head-to-head meeting with their neighbors from up river before they faced a tougher test at the Loyola Invite.
In Missoula, Troy went 4-11 overall against Loyola Sacred Heart, Valley Christian, Simms and Granite, battling gusty winds and another round of chilly weather. Sedler said the Trojans showed poise and continued improvement against strong competition, particularly from Loyola Sacred Heart and Valley Christian.
Junior Jolene Foutch turned in one of the top performances of the day for Troy. Foutch opened with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Haley Richardson of Loyola Sacred Heart, then nearly pulled off another victory after dropping the first set 1-6 to Reagan Vaughan of Loyola Sacred Heart. She rallied to win the second set 6-4 before falling 10-8 in a third-set tiebreaker.
Senior Dmitrii Walenter, Troy’s lone boys player at the invite, also posted a strong showing. Walenter defeated Liam Thomas of Granite 6-1, 6-0 and added a 6-3, 6-4 win over Edwin James of Loyola Sacred Heart. He also competed well in an 8-3 loss to Javi Caderas of Loyola Sacred Heart.
Elsewhere in singles, Shelby Cole faced a pair of difficult matches against top players from Loyola Sacred Heart and Valley Christian, Brookelynn Bowers split her two matches with an 8-6 win over Miriam Dypingco of Loyola Sacred Heart, and Salix Harris competed twice against Valley Christian and Loyola Sacred Heart opponents.
In doubles play, Brooke Place and Abby Kreutzer took on teams from Loyola Sacred Heart and Simms, while Emily Snow and Easton Board faced pairs from Loyola Sacred Heart and Valley Christian. Though the Trojans came up short in those matches, Sedler said the experience against larger, deeper programs was valuable for the team’s continued development.
The Trojans hosted Superior Thursday and will host Alberton at 1 p.m. Saturday.