Tiger tennis season comes to end

Monday, October 12, 2009

INDEPENDENCE -- Fort Scott High School's tennis season came to an end here Friday as each of the Tigers' entries were eliminated in one match at the Independence Class 4A Regional Tournament.

However, the Tigers showed marked improvement this season, winning the most total matches as a team (31) since 2005 after a winless season in 2008.

"We knew going in that the Regional would be a tough tournament and one where most players have to end the season with a loss," Fort Scott head coach Lynn Barr said. "The girls were a little disappointed, but this shouldn't take anything away from what they accomplished this season. Coming off of a very rough season in 2008, these girls have turned things around and started things back in the right direction.

"These girls have worked hard and are beginning to show improvement and more importantly seem to now understand what we need to do to continue to improve. I feel really good about everyone on this team -- varsity and JV -- and believe that this improvement can continue next season."

The best effort of the day came in doubles, where Kalia Dancy and Michelle Buntain held a lead briefly against Augusta's Amie Casner and Abby Garrison. But the Augusta duo rallied and finished up with a 6-3, 6-0 win. They went on to qualify for the State Tournament.

In a very tough Regional, which included Southeast Kansas League champ and 2008 State third-place finisher Independence, the other Tigers had a tough time. Taylor Bailey was defeated in singles, 8-1, by Jordan Hayes of Coffeyville. Heather Hobbs lost to Katie Porter of Independence, last year's third-place individual finisher at State, 6-0, 6-0.

Fort Scott's other doubles team, Corina Harrison and Bailee Hall, lost to Adrienne Kurtz and Kiralyn Mosier of Parsons, 6-0, 6-0.

Independence went on to win the team title with 24 points. Parsons followed with 17 and Labette County with 6.