North County blitzes Potosi for conference tennis crown

North County freshman Claire Scott reaches for a volley at the net as doubles partner Chloe Roach looks on during girls tennis action against Potosi on Tuesday in Potosi. (Matt King, mking@dailyjournalonline.com)

POTOSI – Lucy Pace has remained a reliable cornerstone for North County throughout four consecutive seasons of girls tennis dominance within the MAAA.

The undeniable progress made by sophomore teammates Alli Scott and Kinley Tracy may keep the Lady Raiders atop the conference for the immediate future.

A winner-take-all battle for the regular-season league title on Tuesday featured an added bonus with longtime rivals still carrying undefeated season records.

It was mostly decided within an hour of the opening serve.

North County built an insurmountable lead once Chloe Roach and Claire Scott rattled off the final five games in succession to complete a No. 3 doubles comeback, and ultimately turned Potosi aside 8-1.

Pace secured the clinching match in an 8-0 shutout over Lani Elder at the top ranking, then watched as the Lady Raiders posted three more singles victories.

Alli Scott claimed the first five games of an 8-1 triumph over Tori Krebs, and Claire Scott topped Aubree Wilson 8-4 in the varsity closer after Camille Skaggs outlasted Kensington Davies 8-5.

Potosi junior Hannah Barron sends a return shot to North County during girls doubles tennis action on Tuesday in Potosi. (Matt King, mking@dailyjournalonline.com)

The Lady Trojans continued to enjoy a bright spot at No. 5 singles as junior Hannah Barron successfully moved Roach from side to side and coasted to an 8-1 win.

Wilson also salvaged a positive stretch before falling to the consistency of Claire Scott, electing to attempt more net points during a service break and subsequent hold after trailing 7-1.

The day otherwise belonged to the visitors. North County (8-0, 4-0) started fast with Alli Scott often stationed up front and partner Tracy hanging back.

They produced several putaway volleys to blank Gracie Lawson and Davies 8-0. Tracy highlighted the sixth game of that contest with a couple of running cross-court winners.

Pace and Skaggs regained their stride as a tandem with a positive 8-3 result after losing Monday against Saxony Lutheran. Elder and Krebs each served aces during their initial service games to briefly stay close at 3-2.

Elder politely questioned Skaggs on a line call at an important juncture after whipping a crossing backhand through an open lane for potential double break opportunity.

North County instead held, and strong serving by Pace only widened the lead two games later.

The pivotal dagger came about 20 minutes later.

Potosi (6-1, 3-1) seemed safe to wrap up the No. 3 doubles clash when Barron and Wilson patiently coaxed errors and handled their service games with no issues to lead 6-3.

Roach and Claire Scott began to focus on lower shots while trying to end rallies earlier, however, and reacted well to a return that redirected off the net cord as unforced miscues mounted against their opposition.

Lawson executed a nice lob to punctuate her lone game obtained against Tracy, who opened the singles phase with a impressive 8-1 victory.

Tracy captured the last six games in a row, and concluded a lengthy exchange with a dazzling drop shot that narrowly cleared the net and stayed within the near sideline by a few inches.

Alli Scott showed creativity after building a healthy lead with solid ground strokes. She mixed in a smooth slice during her doubles match, and guided another beyond the reach of Krebs later on.

North County senior Lucy Pace hits a forehand return against Potosi during a girls doubles tennis match on Tuesday in Potosi. (Matt King, mking@dailyjournalonline.com)

Pace was aggressive with forehand strikes from the baseline against Elder, but seemed equally comfortable riding out some longer points. She induced a sailed return with a series of deep placements in a 17-shot rally.

A careful second serve by Elder enabled Pace to blister the return down the line at match point.

Skaggs trailed Davies 4-3 on an adjacent court before briskly taking the next five games.

Singles Results:

1. Lucy Pace (NC) def. Lani Elder, 8-0

2. Alli Scott (NC) def. Tori Krebs, 8-1

3. Kinley Tracy (NC) def. Gracie Lawson, 8-1

4. Camille Skaggs (NC) def. Kensington Davies, 8-5

5. Hannah Barron (P) def. Chloe Roach, 8-1

6. Claire Scott (NC) def. Aubree Wilson, 8-4

Doubles Results:

1. Pace/Skaggs (NC) def. Elder/Krebs, 8-3

2. A Scott/Tracy (NC) def. Lawson/Davies, 8-0

3. Roach/C Scott (NC) def. Barron/Wilson, 8-6

Farmington 7, Windsor 2

IMPERIAL, Mo. – Eva Guzman and Macie Coleman rebounded from an earlier doubles loss to drive Farmington toward an encouraging singles sweep on Tuesday.

No. 6 player Dagny McCarver posted the fastest victories in a pair of shutouts, first joining Addison Brenneke in a key doubles effort before cruising on her own.

Kalei Davis, Mallory Felker and Brenneke also contributed strong singles wins within a collective 7-2 result away from home.

Coleman pulled through for a 9-7 triumph against Ava Mason, and Guzman carried the top-ranked match 8-4 against MacKenzie Farrell as Farmington (3-5) won for the second straight day.

Farrell and Mason seized command of their doubles encounter for an 8-3 victory. Lauren LaPlant and Heidi Heinkel gave Windsor a doubles majority by topping Davis and Felker 8-6.

Singles Results:

1. Eva Guzman (FA) def. MacKenzie Ferrell, 8-4

2. Macie Coleman (FA) def. Ava Mason, 9-7

3. Kalei Davis (FA) def. Lauren LaPlant, 8-4

4. Addison Brenneke (FA) def. Heidi Heinkel, 8-2

5. Mallory Felker (FA) def. Isabelle Martin, 8-3

6. Dagny McCarver (FA) def. Jaxanna Cole, 8-0

Doubles Results:

1. Ferrell/Mason (W) def. Guzman/Coleman, 8-3

2. LaPlant/Heinkel (W) def. Davis/Felker, 8-6

3. Brenneke/McCarver (FA) def. Martin/Cole, 8-0

Potosi junior Lani Elder hits a forehand return against North County during a girls singles tennis match on Tuesday in Potosi.

North County sophomore Alli Scott hits a slice return against Potosi during a girls singles tennis match on Tuesday in Potosi.

Potosi senior Tori Krebs serves against Norh County during a girls singles tennis match on Tuesday in Potosi.