The Black Hills girls tennis team toppled W.F. West for the Bearcats’ first loss of the season on Wednesday at W.F. West.
Black Hills remains undefeated with a 3-0 league record and a 5-0 record overall. W.F. West’s record is 2-1 in league matches, 4-1 overall.
“Black Hills won 4-2, but it really could have been a lot closer, it was almost a 3-3 tie,” said Black Hills Coach Greg Bert.
In the first singles spot, W.F. West's Claire Kuykendall beat Black Hills’ Elli Sarno 6-0, 6-1.
“I think I did a good job at being patient and I think I served pretty well,” Kuykendall said after the match. “She was pretty consistent.”
When asked about the hardest part of her match, Kuykendall said, “Staying patient. And the wind, oh my gosh.”
For second singles, Black Hills’ Char Nieman defeated W.F. West’s Lillian Schmitz 6-2, 6-1.
This match was Schmitz’s first in the singles realm, and W.F. West Coach Jack State said he was proud of the way she “battled.”
In third singles, Black Hills’ Monica Pedi beat W.F. West’s Anna Alexander 6-2, 6-4 in Alexander’s first varsity match.
Black Hills’ first doubles team Sienna Moore and Athena Moore beat W.F. West’s Mariama Ceesay and Kaylynne Dowling, 6-2, 6-0.
“I was really impressed with the W.F. West doubles one team. That one girl, Mari, She’s really improved. I remember her (from) last year,” said Bert. “She’s got really quick hands and we kept hitting the ball to her and I’m saying to myself ‘don't hit it to her.’”
Athena and Sienna Moore, who are identical twins, were the District 4 champions last year in doubles as freshmen.
“They’re just very poised and calm, they don't get upset, they don't get down,” Bert said of his first doubles team. “They’re just really really good. They're really gifted and they work hard, too.”
In the tightest match of the night, Black Hills’ second doubles team Stella Moore and Chloe Whitcraft came out on top in a third set tiebreaker against W.F. West’s Laura Yip and Hannah Feaster, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6).
“Both teams had a chance to win. I know that’s a cliche but … it was a real nailbiter,” Bert said. “Their doubles two team is really steady.”
For third doubles, W.F. West’s Emma Weerasinghe and Katlyn Wood scraped out the Bearcat’s only doubles win against Black Hills’ Haley Carey and Raeven Medwynter, 4-6, 6-0, 7-5.
Bert said W.F. West is always “scary good,” and he was very proud of his team.
Likewise, State said, “We knew they would be very strong.”
