AV tennis team rolls past Potosi in district quarters

By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

IRONTON – Seniors Meadow Boushey and Abby Dugger seized opportunities to shine while helping the Arcadia Valley girls tennis team extend its season on Tuesday.

Straight-set victories by the fifth and sixth players in the singles rankings solidified a 5-1 triumph over Potosi in the Class 1, District 1 quarterfinal round.

Meleah Lara capped her successful effort by taking nine consecutive games, and Arcadia Valley (8-5) continued onward to face unbeaten Kennett on Wednesday.

State doubles qualifiers Braelyn Turnbough and Reese Brogan were held in reserve for possible singles action after fending off Chloe Rowe and Shannon Riddle in an excellent 8-5 battle.

Their services would not be required a second time. Boushey raced forward to backhand a short volley, and coaxed a hustling return by Harlee Kley that landed wide to stamp a 6-3, 6-0 clincher.

Dugger often lofted returns toward the deepest section of the court to win rallies against Emily Brewer, and rode an impressive start to a 6-0, 6-4 decision.

Brewer, usually an exclusive doubles player, regrouped from her slow first set to deliver a solid service game, but relinquished a saving break she had just obtained at the conclusion. Dugger approached for a timely forehand winner to build a 5-2 advantage at in the second.

Boushey and Dugger set the tone for a doubles majority by topping Brewer and Brenna Yount 8-3 in the initial completed match of the duel.

The No. 1 doubles match swung squarely in favor of AV after the riveting 10th game spanned 20 points – served by Rowe – and included seven deuces.

Shannon Riddle twice reacted near the net to score go-ahead volleys, and Potosi had six chances to terminate the game that were each turned aside.

Brogan placed a precise forehand winner just inside the back line to extend the wild sequence, and Turnbough sprinted to rescue a slice before earning a 7-3 lead.

Turnbough started the match with a love service game, and Brogan chose to return amid a moment of indecision just in time for a 3-0 edge. Rowe split her opponents on a sinking winner to break at 3-2.

The Lady Trojans pushed back on the adjacent court when Caity Cain and Kinsley Vance cemented an impressive 8-5 victory over Lara and Mary Beth Young.

Cain and Vance perhaps surprised their opponents by forcing errors and building a 4-0 advantage after falling to Lara and Young 8-3 during the regular season.

The Arcadia Valley tandem responded to obtain the next three games, but Cain saved a potential tying break point, and Vance calmly executed an overhead putaway to restore a 6-3 lead.

Lara gained retribution against Cain with emphasis on aggressive serves and forehand strokes from the outset. An ace ended the initial game, and two return errors sealed the first set of a 6-2, 6-0 victory.

Young carried a 4-0 lead against Vance when the action was halted.

Potosi (6-8) will feature a much different roster last year once five current starters graduate.

Rowe will focus her attention toward a debut appearance at the Class 1 state tournament next week in Springfield after qualifying as district runner-up last Thursday.

The Class 2, District 1 bracket received a major jolt on Tuesday when the top two seeds were bounced from the semifinals on their home courts.

Farmington edged Poplar Bluff 5-4, and Festus took down Notre Dame 5-3 ahead of the championship duel on Wednesday.

Singles Results:

3. Meleah Lara (AV) def. Caity Cain 6-2, 6-0

5. Meadow Boushey (AV) def. Harlee Kley 6-3, 6-0

6. Abby Dugger (AV) def. Emily Brewer 6-0, 6-4

Doubles Results:

1. Turnbough/Brogan (AV) def. Rowe/Riddle 8-5

2. Cain/Vance (P) def. Lara/Young 8-5

3. Boushey/Dugger (AV) def. Brewer/Yount 8-3

North County 5, Dexter 0

BONNE TERRE – Jada Braswell finalized a 6-0, 6-0 shutout at No. 3 singles, and second-seeded North County eliminated Dexter 5-0 in the Class 1, District 1 quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Kinley Tracy was also a two-match winner after prevailing 6-0, 6-1 against Avery Medley, and North County (12-0) advanced to meet Saxony Lutheran in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Claire Scott joined Braswell for an 8-0 result, and Tracy chalked up another No. 1 doubles triumph alongside Alli Scott at 8-1.

Laney Smith and Baily White rolled 8-3 for the five-time defending champions.

Singles Results:

2. Kinley Tracy (NC) def. Jalynn Proffer 6-0, 6-1

3. Jada Braswell (NC) def. Avery Medley 6-0, 6-0

Doubles Results:

1. A Scott/Tracy (NC) def. Churchill/Proffer 8-1

2. Braswell/C Scott (NC) def. Medley/Nea 8-0

3. Smith/Whited (NC) def. Musgrave/McDonald 8-3

Saxony Lutheran 5, Fredericktown 0

JACKSON, Mo. – Hannah Pruitt and Allie Niccum each dominated their singles opponents without dropping a game for Saxony Lutheran on Wednesday.

The Crusaders earned an earlier doubles sweep, and rolled past Fredericktown 5-0 in the Class 1, District 1 girls tennis quarterfinal round.

Katya Rust and Sadie Elmore prevailed 8-2 over Anna Miller and Emilee Collins at the no. 1 ranking. Saxony Lutheran (10-6) advanced to face North County on Wednesday in the semifinals.

Emi Keller, Aubrey Ostendorf, Rust and Elmore claimed the first sets in their respective unfinished matches for the Crusaders.

Senior Livee McFadden secured a team-high three singles games for Fredericktown (5-9). Brianna Benitez and Stella Rehkop battled to an 8-5 defeat.

Singles Results:

1. Hannah Pruitt (SAX) def. Anna Miller 6-0, 6-0

6. Allie Niccum (SAX) def. Stella Rehkop 6-0, 6-0

Doubles Results:

1. Rust/Elmore (SAX) def. Miller/Collins 8-2

2. Pruitt/Ostendorf (SAX) def. Moser/McFadden 8-4

3. Keller/Niccum (SAX) def. Benitez/Rehkop 8-5