Bulldog tennis teams ace Corvallis, Hamilton

The Whitefish boys and girls tennis teams opened their season with wins over Hamilton and Corvallis on Saturday.

The weather in Corvallis was 70 degrees and gorgeous, girls coach Patrick Dryden said, and in that environment the Whitefish girls defeated Hamilton 5-2 and Corvallis 4-3.

"It was fun to get some competition and find out what you're capable of," Dryden said of the matches.

He said the teams were all evenly matched, which made the games exciting. Dryden speculated that Corvallis would be the best team in the Southern A Conference this year.

Against Hamilton, Brielle Menegazzi defeated Laura Moran, 6-3, 6-0. Mariah Driscoll lost to Ashlie Mildenbergger, 6-1, 3-6, 1-6. Sami Peterson lost to Katie Andre, 5-7, 2-6.

In doubles, Kimberly McIntyre and Kate Whitaker defeated Courtney Quinlan and Kaitlin Baldridge, 6-4, 6-3. Kate Klundt and McCara Cullen defeated Rebecca Hankel and Teddy Shook 6-1, 6-2. Kelsey McCluskey and Becca Rozar defeated Jenni Schreckendgust and Laura Cornelisse 6-1, 6-0.

Against Corvallis, Menegazzi defeated Megin Madruga, 6-3, 6-3. Mariah Briscoll defeated Kayla Gingerich, 4-6, 7-6, 6-1. McCara Cullen lost to Emily Keegan, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6. Kate Klundt defeated Jordynn Cheeney, 6-4, 6-2.

In doubles, Kimberly McIntyre and Kate Whitaker lost to Kirstin Bull and Arielle Perkins, 3-6, 1-6. Becca Rozar and Steffi Osland lost to Calie Ward and Kylee Cheeney, 3-6, 5-7. Sammy Peterson and Kelsey McCluskey defeated Anna Adolphson and Katie Kerner, 7-6, 6-0.

Dryden said the girls didn't make many double faults and played safe, keeping the ball down the middle. He said there were a few games Whitefish shouldn't have won, but he credited multi-sport athletes on the team who "know how to win" for bending fate to Whitefish's favor.

Dryden said some of the girls on the tennis team also play soccer, basketball and volleyball, "and they are competitive and play hard."

The boys enjoyed similar success on their road trip to the Bitterroot Valley.

"We beat Corvallis 6-1 and we beat Hamilton 7-0," said boys tennis coach Karen Cummins. "We only dropped one match, and the boys played really well."

Against Hamilton, Matt Harris defeated Eric Johnson 6-0, 6-0. Ryan Rottenbiller defeated Evan Caughey 6-0, 6-0. Ian Hosek defeated Josh Keimig 6-0, 6-0. Tanner Hosek defeated Tyler Berghtel 6-0, 6-0.

In doubles, Scott Johnson and Kyle Jacobson defeated Ryan Splatt and Alex Ridgway 6-0, 6-3. Chase Pierce and Matt Whitehead defeated Josh Peterson and Tyler Berghtel 6-3, 6-1. Trey Lagrandeur and Lucas Peace defeated Blake Brintnal and Justin Wallace 6-0, 6-0.

Against Corvallis, Harris defeated Geoff Fehr 6-4, 6-3. Rottenbiller defeated Jake Langster 6-0, 6-1. Ian Hosek defeated Ben Kerner 6-1, 6-1. Pierce defeated John Powell 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

In doubles, Johnson and Jacobson lost to Spencer Fehr and Levi Pauli 3-6, 6-3, 2-6. Whitehead and Lagrandeur defeated Taylor Nagel and Eric Spencer 2-6, 6-0, 10-8. Tanner Hosek and Peace defeated Dillon Murray and Tyler Roberts 7-6, 7-6.

On Saturday, the boys and girls teams both play at Columbia Falls beginning around 11 a.m.

Dryden said the Wildkats tennis team hasn't played a game this year yet, and he expects Sarah Marcille to be a tough opponent.