Playing in one of the state’s strongest leagues for girls’ tennis, the Hillsboro Trojans placed fifth among 10 teams competing at the Mid-Central Activities Association league meet Saturday at Sterling.
The Trojans, who finished with 46 points, trailed co-champions Wichita Collegiate and Hesston with 82 points apiece, Ellinwood with 59 and Smoky Valley with 48.
Trailing Hillsboro were Hoisington (40), Sterling (26), Nickerson and Lyons (21) and Haven (0).
“I was overall pleased with the day,” coach Lynn Wiebe said. “The teams that were ahead of us are all very respectable teams, and some of the better teams in the state.
“Hesston and Smoky will probably be among the top two or three teams in Class 4A this year. Collegiate has been league champs for several years in a row and has won state a couple of years.”
Hillsboro’s best finishes on Saturday came in No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles, where the Trojans placed fourth.
In No. 1 doubles, Amanda Faber and Greta Wiebe defeated Clawson and Plowman of Ellinwood (9-2), lost to Blanks and Johnson from Smoky Valley (3-6, 5-7) and then to Dunn and Alexander from Collegiate (2-6, 2-6).
In No. 2 singles, Lauren Just won her opening match against Prokish of Smoky Valley (9-6), lost in the semifinal to Glaser of Collegiate (1-6, 3-6), the eventual champion, then lost to Roberts of Ellinwood (0-6, 4-6) in the third-place match.
“It’s the first time I remember that we’ve had two first-round wins at league,” Coach Wiebe said. “I was very pleased with that.”
In No. 1 singles, Amber Loewen placed eighth, losing in the first round to eventual champion Jessica Ball of Collegiate (0-9), before beating Stucky of Nickerson and Eash of Haven (9-0), then losing to Riggs of Smoky Valley.
In No. 2 doubles, Anna Woelk and Julia Loewen lost to Snell and Morganstern of Ellinwood (1-9), then came back to beat Wilson and Bitonte of Collegiate (9-4) and Osborn and Harper of Nickerson (9-6) for fifth place.
Collegiate—The Trojans finished fifth among eight teams competing Thursday in the Wichita Collegiate Invitational, which had been rescheduled from its original Sept. 18 date.
The Trojans scored 11 points to finish behind Wichita East and Wichita Independent, who tied at 24, Collegiate Blue at 23 and Winfield with 17.
Senior Amanda Faber returned to No. 1 singles and placed fourth with a 2-1 record. She won her opening match (8-1), then lost in the semifinals (3-8) and the third-place match (5-8).
In No. 2 singles, Amber Loewen also placed fourth at 1-2, winning her opener (8-1), then losing her semifinal (3-8) and third-place (4-8) matches.
Greta Wiebe and Lauren Just went 1-2, but finished fourth in No. 1 doubles. The duo lost a close opening match (7-8 [3]), then dropped the first match on the backside of the bracket (3-8) before coming back to win the match for seventh place (8-6).
In No. 2 doubles, Julia Loewen and Anna Woelk lost their opener (5-8), won the first consolation match (8-3), then lost the fifth-place match (5-8).
Coming—With the new state playoff system, the Trojans will first compete in a five-team regional tournament on Thursday. The top four finishers in singles and doubles will then play at a sub-state tournament Saturday at Sterling.
Hillsboro will host the regional tournament, which will begin around 9:30 a.m. and include Alma-Wabaunsee, Hutchinson Trinity, Sterling and Wichita Collegiate.
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