CFHS tennis teams continue to improve

The Columbia Falls tennis teams had a decidedly mixed week. The girls team lost all their matches but one, and the boys won one match against Whitefish, but did better against Bigfork, winning three matches.

The girls have just one experienced player.

"For some girls this was their first home match ever. One player asked if she could drive her own car to the courts, rather than take the bus," coach Jerry Smalley said. "We were totally outmanned against Whitefish."

But Smalley saw some improved play against Bigfork.

"We had greatly improved play by Shelby (Hobbs) and Laura (Burgi) in No. 1 doubles. I was also glad to see Franki (Anderson) and Stephanie (Raymond) come back to take a set. We're young and we need to hit lots of balls."

The boys had Grant Getts out of the lineup and also had a tough time against Whitefish. The lone win came when Tim Spencer and Vadim Zyvegelskiy won their doubles match. They also won their match in Bigfork and have a been a bright spot all season long in the No. 3 doubles spot.

Coach Gary Yee said the team did pretty well with Getts and Scott Hopkins out. Getts was in New York at a jazz festival.

The teams get back to their regular lineup this week, Yee said.

The players are still getting used to the new home courts. In some cases, the ball stays low, in others it bounces higher.

"We definitely have a home-court advantage," Yee said.

The courts will likely have to be modified somewhat. Expansion and contraction of the material is causing buckles in some places. That can probably be fixed by removing some panels between courts so they can expand, Yee noted.

Other than that, the courts seem to be going well. Yee said that before divisionals, however, he'd like to get the team on a hardcourt surface so they can readjust. The divisional tourney is played at Whitefish this year, where all the courts are traditional hardcourt surfaces.

Boys

Whitefish 6, Columbia Falls 1

Singles — Ian Hosek, WF, def. Jake Ronish, 6-3, 7-5; Trey Legrandeur, WF, def. Cody Maynard, 6-2, 6-2; Tanner Hosek, WF, def. Eric Schaeffer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Zachariah Deister, WF, def. Weston Bartkoski, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles — Matt Harris/Brendan Viscomi, WF, def. Scott Hopkins/Billy Garcia, 6-0, 6-0; Kyle Jacobson/Ryan Rottenbiller, WF, def. Joel Ballard/Chen Gao, 6-0, 6-0; Tim Spencer/Vadim Zyvegelskiy, CF, def. Chris Jellison/Rigoberto Paredes, 6-2, 6-3.

Girls

Whitefish 7, Columbia Falls 0

Singles — Brielle Menegazzi, WF, def. Sarah Marcille 6-4, 6-2.; Kate Klundt, WF, def. Lydia Freeman 6-0, 6-0; Almira Sekerci, WF, def. Sara Lueken 6-1, 6-0; Ellie Opal , WF, won by forfeit.

Doubles — McCara Cullen and Meredith Reed , WF, def. Stephanie Raymond and Franki Anderson 6-3, 6-4; Steffi Osland and Becca Rosar, WF, def. Aysia Potter and Pepper Borland 6-1, 6-1; Anne Miller and Chelsi Bergensmith, WF, def. Lexie Bartkoski and Marissa Getts 6-2, 6-1.

Boys

Bigfork 4, Columbia Falls 3

Singles — Phillip Meyers, B, def. Jake Ronish, 6-2, 6-2; Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Billy Garcia, 6-3, 6-1; Cody Maynard, CF, def. Seth Gordon, 6-2, 6-2; Eric Schaeffer, CF, def. Ryan Gembala, 6-0, 6-4.

Doubles — Tyler Butts/Scott Tayler, B, def. Weston Bartkoski/Chen Gao, 6-0, 6-0; Sean Barrett/Jordan Sabo, B, def. Joel Ballard/Brad Wyman, 6-3, 6-1; Tim Spencer/Vadim Zvyagelskiy, CF, def. Evan Jordt/Cole Francisco, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1).

Girls

Bigfork 6, Columbia Falls 1

Singles — Sarah Marcille, CF, def. Kelly Deaton, 6-2, 6-0; Jade Bosic, B, def. Sara Lueken, 6-1, 6-1; Ariana Shults, B, def. Lexie Bartkoski, 6-1, 6-0; Lisa Kelcey, B, def. Marissa Getts, 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles — Nicolette Peterson/Jennifer Wirth, B, def. Shelby Hobbs/Laura Burgi, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; Cassie Lepper/Hanna Barrett, B, def. Franki Anderson/Stephanie Raymond, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5; Clair Wilken/Logun Koch, B, def. Aysia Potter/Pepper Borland, 6-1, 6-2.