Vikes win, Vals split heading into divisional tournament 

The Bigfork High School boys tennis team is going into the divisional tournament with a little boost of confidence after defeating both Polson and Ronan last week. Divisionals start today, May 14, in Kalispell.

"Everyone is playing really well," said BHS Assistant Tennis Coach, Matt Porrovecchio. "They are all showing a lot of improvement from where they were at the start of the season, especially with shot selection and making a higher percentage of their shots. I think everyone is getting a little more comfortable with their positions on the team as far as doubles and singles."

In their last regular season match of the season, the Vikes swept Ronan 7-0 on Saturday. None of the matches even went into a third set.

It was the second set of wins for the Vikings singles players who all beat their opponents in two sets when Bigfork defeated Polson on Thursday, 4-3.

The Vikings' number one singles player, Bridger Mahlum, beat Ronan's Sage Burland, 7-5, 6-0, and Polson's Matt Roberts 6-4, 6-2. Last week, Scott Taylor defeated Colton Cheff from Ronan, 6-1, 6-0, and Seth Hovenkotter, from Polson, 6-1, 6-1. Sean Barrett had victories over both Jess Smith, 6-0, 6-1, and Christian McCurdy, 6-1, 6-1, from Ronan and Polson, respectively.

Freshman Colter Mahlum, Bigfork's number four singles player, extended his win streak to six last week with victories over Ronan's Cheff, 10-4 and Polson's Andrew Storrd, 6-2, 6-3. Mahlum's victory over Cheff was technically a forfeit by Ronan since he already played in the number two match against Taylor.

Polson handed the Bigfork girls their first loss, a 7-0 shutout, since they were defeated by Glacier April 13.

"Polson is a strong team," Porrovecchio said. "They were just better than us that given day. They will be one of the teams to beat in the tournament. Sometimes I think it's good to go into a tournament with a loss. A lot of times you get more out of a loss."

The Vals seemed to do just that and rallied back to beat Ronan in the same 7-0 fashion. Against Ronan, the girls were able to defeat all of their opponents in just two sets and gave up a total of less than 10 games to the Maidens.

Divisional play starts at 3 p.m. today. All matches will be at the Flathead Valley Community College, except for girls singles, which will be played at the Glacier Tennis Club at the Summit. On Friday and Saturday, play will begin at 8 a.m. at the FVCC courts and at 8:30 a.m. at the Summit Courts.

"We're really hopeful for all of our kids," Porrovecchio said. "We are happy with where they are at at this point in the season. But that being said, anything can happen at divisionals where everyone is starting out with a clean slate. We are in a really tough division for tennis with a lot of really good players."

Senior Scott Taylor is the only returning player from Bigfork who advanced to state last year from the tournament. He was on a doubles team with Tyler Butts, who graduated.

Girls

Polson 7, Bigfork 0

SINGLES — Jane Probst, P, def. Jade Bosic, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4; Lexi Cline, P, def. Kelly Deaton, 6-2, 6-3; Jenni Reilley, P, def. Elyse Myers, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3; Kelsie Howell, P, def. Claire Wilken, 6-3, 7-5.

DOUBLES — Kayla Rochin/Kendyall Rochin, P, def. Ariana Shults/Jennifer Wirth, 6-3, 6-2; Kelsey Jones/Heather Mathison, P, def. Nicolette Peterson/Hannah Barrett, 6-2, 6-3; Erika Nunlist/Sara Keeble, P, def. Kianna Wicklund/AnnMarie Losee, 6-2, 6-3.

Bigfork 7, Ronan 0

SINGLES — Jade Bosic, B, def. Carly Blush, 6-1, 6-0; Kelly Deaton, B, def. Britney Cheff, 6-0, 6-1; Elyse Myers, B, def. Amber Metzger, 6-3, 6-0; Claire Wilken, B, def. Brittney Drake, 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES — Ariana Shults/Jennifer Wirth, B, def. Shelby Fisher/D. Blixt-Leo, 6-0, 6-1; Nicolette Peterson/Hannah Barrett, B, def. Katelyn Matkozich/Taylor Courville, 6-0, 6-1; Kianna Wicklund/AnnMarie Losee, B, def. Hayley Walston/Brianna Frank, 6-0, 6-1.

Boys

Bigfork 4, Polson 3

SINGLES — Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Matt Roberts, 6-4, 6-2; Scott Taylor, B, def. Seth Hovenkotter, 6-1, 6-1; Sean Barrett, B, def. Christian McCurdy, 6-1, 6-1; Colter Mahlum, B, def. Andrew Storro, 6-2, 6-3.

DOUBLES — Tyler Engebretsen/Stefan McCrumb, P, def. Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala, 7-5, 6-1; Shad Giles/Kyle Cooper, P, def. Cole Francisco/Dylan Reichenbach, 6-1, 7-5; Justin Evertz/Tom Deanovic, P, def. Nate Roberson/John Lyon, 6-2, 6-2.

Bigfork 7, Ronan 0

SINGLES — Bridger Mahlum, B, def. Sage Burland, 7-5, 6-0; Scott Taylor, B, def. Colton Cheff, 6-1, 6-0; Sean Barrett, B, def. Jess Smith, 6-0, 6-1; Colter Mahlum, B, def. Colton Cheff, 10-4.

DOUBLES — Evan Jordt/Ryan Gembala, B, def. Austin Butler/Hunter Shimit, 6-2, 6-3; Cole Francisco/Dylan Reichenbach, B, def. Spencer Sucha/Aaron Yazzie, 6-0, 6-0; Nate Roberson/John Lyon, B, def. Kyle Yankey/Chase Allen, 6-1, 6-0.