Weber qualifies for third state berth

For the third straight year, Hillsboro?s Allison Weber has qualified for the state Class 3-2-1A state tennis tournament.

The Trojan junior followed through on her No. 2 seeding at regionals in Leavenworth Saturday by finishing as the tournament runner-up in singles.

Weber defeated Asbell Blythe of KC Maranatha 6-1, 6-0, Alexa Menold of Sabetha 6-0, 6-1 and Megan Bowlin of Maranatha 6-2, 6-3 to reach the finals.

?Bowlin is a good player,? coach Bob Woelk said. ?Allison basically did what she typically does?outlasts and frustrates her opponent by taking her best punches and returning everything.?

In the finals, Weber took on the defending Class 3-2-1A state champion in Sara Goodwin of Kansas City Christian, who lost only one game in the tournament. Goodwin prevailed 6-0, 6-0.

?Overall, Allison played really well,? Woelk said. ?She controlled the tempo of most of her matches and made the big shots when she had to.?

Claire Heyen, meanwhile, came within one match of breaking into the top six. She defeated Delaney Reeves of Wabaunsee 9-6 in the only play-in match of the tournament, then upset the No. 5 seeded Jamie Clary of Hiawatha, 2-6, 6-2, 10-3 (super tiebreaker).

?Claire completely turned the match around in the second set, then carried the momentum into the tiebreaker to advance to the round of eight players.? Woelk said.

Heyen lost her final match Friday to the No. 4 seed, then lost Saturday morning to knock her out of the tournament.

?I was especially proud of the way Claire came on late in the season as our second singles player,? Woelk said. ?She should be an even bigger threat next year.?

In doubles, Allison Gray and Hannah Funk lost to Jenny Jenkins and Brooke Robertson of KC Christian in the first round, 7-5, 6-2.

?They led the set several times, but they stumbled a bit late, which seemed to take the wind out of their sails for the second set,? Woelk said.

Destiny Sharp and Anna Glanzer lost 9-1 in the play-in match to Lydia Lierz and Cori Herrera of Hiawatha.

Coming?Allison Weber will take a 21-7 record to the Class 3-2-1A state tournament in Pratt beginning Friday. Play is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.

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