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Becky Faber, dressed for temperatures in the low 40s, gets low to return a shot near the net during her opening match with Mackenzie Choitz at the regional tournament Friday at the Sports Complex. Faber lost in three sets. |
The tournament itself was extended two days because of weather, but the Hillsboro girls? participation ended early at the Class 3-2-1A regional tennis showdown Friday at the Sports Complex.
All four of Hillsboro?s entries lost first match in what became for them a single-elimination format at what coach Bob Woelk called ?arguably the toughest regional in the state.?
Temperatures in the low 40s, exacerbated by wind, didn?t help. In fact, officials delayed the second day of competition to Monday afternoon when Satur?day?s forecast was even more dire.
Becky Faber, Hillsboro?s No. 1 singles player all season and arguably its best hope for a state berth, lost to Mackenzie Choitz of Ellsworth in a play-in match for the 16-player bracket, 6-3, 0-6, 10-6.
Drawing a bye in the play-in round, Emma Heyen made it to the round of 16, where she lost to Chelsea Ellis of Sacred Heart, 6-3, 6-0.
In doubles, Elise Heyen and Courtney Weber played their first match in the round of 16 and lost to Sarah Maddox and Lindsey Rojas of Ellsworth, 6-2, 6-4, while Aubrey Meier and Hayley Pankratz were shutout by Katie Morgenstern and Bailey Schartz of Ellinwood, 6-0, 6-0, after drawing a bye in the play-in round.
MCAA?Hillsboro placed fifth among 10 teams at the last league tournament for the Mid-Central Activities Association, which was hosted Oct. 3 by Wichita Collegiate, the eventual champion.
Hillsboro?s singles entries both placed fifth in their respective brackets.
In No. 1 singles, Becky Faber lost to Esther Cho of Collegiate, 9-7, then beat Jessica Martinez of Lyons, 9-0, and Rachel Norberg of Smoky Valley, 9-1.
In No. 2 singles, Emma Heyen lost to Reba Thomas of Ellin?wood, 9-1, then beat Jessica Van Ranken of Smoky Valley, 9-7, and Heather Crane of Lyons, 9-0.
Hillsboro?s two doubles teams each placed seventh.
The No. 1 team of Elise Heyen and Courtney Weber won a play-in match over Reichen?berger and Roederer of Haven, 9-5, then lost to LeMaster and Johnson of Collegiate, 9-3, and Kaiser and Ney of Hoisington, 9-2, before beating Buckman and Brashear of Sterling, 9-7.
In No. 2 doubles, Aubrey Meier and Hayley Pankratz won their play-in match over Verette and New of Lyons, 9-7, then lost to Miller and Beckwith of Ellinwood, 9-1, and Stout and Eash of Haven, 9-5, before beating Verette and New a second time, 9-4.
