Weber wins singles, Trojans finish fourth

Allison Gray, who teamed with Madison Klein on Hillsboro?s No. 1 doubles team, delivers a serve during their opening match against Circle. The Trojan two-some finished fifth out of six teams with a 1-2 record Thursday at the Trojan Invitational.Even with Allison Weber?s first-place finish in No. 1 singles, the Hillsboro tennis team finished fourth among six teams Thursday at the Trojan Invita?tional.

With two teams dropping out prior to the event, the remaining schools competed in two pools of three teams each. Based on the results, counterparts from each pool faced each other in the medal round.

Chapman won the team title with 36 points, followed by Hutchinson Trinity 32, Sterling 27, Hillsboro 22, Circle 20 and Nickerson 9.

In pool play, Weber dominated Trinity?s Kristina Enslinger (8-0), and Circle?s Emma Iseman (8-2). The Trojans? three-time state qualifier then won the title by defeating McKenzie Thrasher of Sterling in what coach Bob Woelk called ?her best match of the year.?

?Allison lost one game early, then really dismantled Thrasher with some of her best hitting this season?she was aggressive and accurate,? Woelk said. ?I think it was the shortest match, in terms of time on the court, of her career. She really took care of business.?

In No. 2 singles, Claire Heyen had what Woelk called ?a heartbreaking day? in pool play, losing a pair of tiebreakers, 8-7 (10-8) to Mor?gan Cowles of Trinity, and 8-7 (7-2) to Megan Wicks of Circle.

Against Cowles, Heyen rallied from a 7-2 deficit to tie the match before losing the hard-fought tiebreaker. In the second match, Heyen had her serve broken early by Wicks, then broke back late to take a 7-6 lead. Wicks held her serve in the final game to force a tiebreaker.

After the two difficult losses, Heyen rallied to beat Jade Bornholdt of Nicker?son, 8-2, to claim fifth place.

?She dropped from a chance to play for first to a fifth-place finish by virtue to two tiebreakers,? Woelk said. ?On the positive side, she battled all day. She continues to improve and only needs to eliminate a few unforced errors and win the big points to become a factor by regional time.?

Hillsboro had three doubles entries instead of the traditional two.

At No. 1, Allison Gray and Madison Klein placed fifth. The Trojan duo lost to Cir?cle?s Jaax and Griffin, 8-1, and to Reade and Lanham of Trinity, 8-1. In the battle for fifth, they defeated Chris?tian and Hirsch of Nicker?son, 8-2.

The Trojans had two entries in No. 2 doubles. In Pool A, Hannah Funk and Anna Glanzer lost to Garcia and LeClaire of Trinity, 8-1, and Morgan and Allison of Circle, 8-2, then defeated Weve and Lowery of Nicker?son, 8-1, for fifth place.

In Pool B, Darcy Hein?richs and Mary Leihy, filling a vacancy in the Sterling team lineup, defeated Weve and Lowery, 8-1, lost to Fink and Loy of Chapman, 8-0, then lost to Morgan and Allison for fourth place.

?I don?t know if we have our lineup solidly set going into league and regional play as the season winds down,? Woelk said.

Coming?Hillsboro was scheduled to compete at Ells?worth Sept. 30, then will travel to Lyons Saturday for the Central Kan?sas League tournament. Matches begin a 9 a.m.

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