The Hillsboro Trojans girls’ tennis team placed third out of four teams Thursday at Sterling, as every player on the team recorded at least one victory.
Allison Weber placed second in No. 1 doubles. She lost her first match to Maddie Thrasher of Sterling 8-5. Weber then defeated Katelyn Spangenberg of St. John 8-0 and Sophia Garcia of Trinity Catholic of Hutchinson 8-1.
“Thrasher, a freshman, is going to be a force in the CKL (Central Kansas League) this year,” coach Bob Woelk said. “Allison staged a bit of a comeback late in the match after going down 4-1, but she could not counter Thrasher’s ability to move her all over the court.”
Claire Heyen and Allison Gray went 1-2 in No. 1 doubles. They lost in a tiebreaker 8-7 (7-4) to Veronica Norez and Lindsay Gilmore of Sterling. Heyen and Gray had leads at 6-5 and 7-6, but Sterling forced the tiebreaker. They defeated Tyler Dived and Audrey Mercer of St. John 8-5, then lost to Baylee Reade and Emma Lanham of Trinity 8-1. Reade is a past state qualifier and is strong at the net.
Jazmene May went 1-2 in her first ever varsity matches as the No. 2 doubles player. She lost to Mac Thrasher of Sterling and Kristina Enslinger of Trinity, both 8-0. She was awarded a win when St. John’s No. 2 doubles player forfeited because of illness or injury.
Hannah Funk and Anna Glanzer lost their opening match in No. 2 doubles to Jessica Thorpe and Shelbi Fenwick of Sterling 8-2, but turned around to defeat Trinity’s Catherine LeClaire and Esmeralda Tovar 8-6. St. John did not have a No. 2 doubles team, so Funk and Glanzer placed second in the division.
“Hannah is doing a good job of court coverage and really hustles to the ball well,” Woelk said.
Weber wins at home
Weber won the No. 1 singles portion of the Hillsboro Invitational on Aug. 3. She defeated Makenzie Nisley of Nickerson and Jasmine Ray of Haven, both 8-0, and Olivia Brubacher of Hesston 8-2.
Gray and Heyen placed fourth out of six teams in No. 1 doubles. They defeated Hannah Latham and Jade Bornholdt of Nickerson 8-3, but lost to Sam Stallbaumber and Mary Wagler of Haven and Jocelin Pusch and Kaitlin Schrock of Hesston.
Glanzer lost her three matches in No. 2 singles, and Funk and Destiny Sharp lost their three matches in No. 2 doubles.
The team placed fourth in the tournament.