Lady Dogs hang with state champs
<p>Megan Danczyk makes a play at the net Thursday in a tennis dual at home against Bigfork.</p>
The Lady Bulldog tennis team held their own Saturday against the defending state champions. The Lady Pirates prevailed 4-3 in the conference dual, but Whitefish left Polson knowing they can hang with one of the best teams they’ll face all season.
“We’ve had four years of 7-0 whitewashings against Polson,” Whitefish coach Patrick Dryden said. “For us to take three matches is a step in right direction.”
“They are the premiere team,” he said, but the gap is closing.
Ryan Chauner picked up a win at No. 2 singles 6-3, 6-2.
“Ryan has established herself as one of the better players in the division,” Dryden said. “You can see how confident she is, and she is getting better with every match.”
Megan Danczyk and Lindsey Viscomi rolled at No. 1 doubles 6-2, 6-3, while Caroline Carbo and Mckenzie Wick battled for a three set win at No. 3 doubles.
Dryden praised Danczyk and Viscomi for bouncing back after a tough three-set loss Thursday to Bigfork.
“We want the kids to be pushed and feel pressure,” Dryden said. “They learned a lot from that match against Bigfork and we saw the benefit at Polson two days later.”
Whitefish topped Bigfork in the dual 5-2 at home.
Whitefish will focus on JV action this week with Eureka at home on Tuesday and at Columbia Falls Saturday.
Whitefish 5, Bigfork 2
Singles – Ryan Chauner, W, def. Madison Fraley, 6-0, 6-2; Brooke Bonner, B, def. Sloan Ellis, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); Kendall Sattler, W, def. Genovieve Gibson, 6-2, 6-1; Caroline Carbo, W, def. Alex Hider, 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles – Alannis Stallknecht/Shelby Scoggins, B, def. Megan Danczyk/Lindsey Viscomi, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3); Haley Craven/Lauren Cain, W, def. Kayla Casalegno/Mariah Bradstreet, 6-2, 6-3; Katie Fyall/Anna Peterson, W, def. Alauna Weilacher/Cassandra Butterfield, 6-0, 6-0.
Polson 4, Whitefish 3
Singles – Whitney Zimmerman, P, def. Sloan Ellis, 6-0, 6-2; Ryan Chauner, WF, def. Shannon Oakley, 6-3, 6-2; Peyton Anderson, P, def. Kendall Sattler, 6-2, 6-1; Dylan Quinn, P, def. Lauren O’Laughlin, 6-4, 7-5.
Doubles – Megan Danczyk and Lindsey Viscomi, WF, def. Karly Rochin and Mollybeth Hendrix, 6-2, 6-3; Tegan Bauer and Libby Clay, P, def. Haley Craven and Lauren Cain, 6-4, 6-1; Caroline Carbo and McKenzie Wick, WF, def. Lauren Dupuis and Shawna Oakley, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
JV Whitefish 3, JV Polson 2
Anna Peterson and Katie Fyall, WF, def. Marlee Congdon and Shauna Lenz, POL, 6-1, 6-1
Molly Lem, POL, def. Addie Elm, WF, 6-1, 6-2
Molly Lem, POL, def. Keara Delaney, WF, 8-2
Katie Fyall, WF, def. Lenz, POL, 8-2
Anna Peterson, WF, def. Congdon, POL, 8-7