Familiar foes
Williston to meet top-seed Century (again) for West Region championshipBy CRAIG HAUPERT, Staff Writer chaupert@minotdailynews.com
POSTED: May 16, 2008
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It is the fourth straight year that the West Region tournament has produced this matchup and Century has won all three times.
Century topped Williston 8-1 in a dual earlier this season, but Williston head coach Wade Stueve is optimistic, stating that his team is more formidable in the tournament’s 3-2 format. He also has a plan.
“If we go out an kidnap a couple of (Century’s) kids we might have a chance,” Stueve quipped.
All joking aside, Stueve will need spot-on performances from all his players to take out the reigning champs. Performances like the ones he got in a 4-1 win over Bismarck High and a 3-2 win over Minot High School in the first and second rounds, respectively, Thursday at various courts in Minot.
Williston’s Rachel Hennessy won both of her No. 1 singles matches as did teammate Alissa Kyllo at No. 3 singles.
“Rachel is playing really well right now in singles. She is coming in with a lot of confidence,” Stueve said. “Alissa has been strong all year and has played well this whole tournament so she’s another strength of ours.”
Against Minot High, Williston won all three singles matches, but lost both doubles matches.
Minot High defeated Bismarck High 4-1 in the opening round, getting wins from Brianna Thomas, Laura Pearson and Erin Black in 1-2-3 singles, respectively. The Majettes’ No. 2 doubles team of Shantel Montgomery and Lindsey Eckmann won both of its matches.
“We played about as well as we played all season in that match against Bismarck High,” MHS head coach Jerry Lyon said. “We had just a great effort against them, including Erin Black, who is brand new to varsity play. It was her match that clenched it for us. We also got a gutsy performance out of Brianna Thomas.”
Minot High will play Jamestown in a state play-in game today. Despite being the lower seed, Jamestown defeated Minot High 6-3 earlier this year.
“We were a little short handed at the time, but (Jamestown) is a very athletic team with very good tennis players,” Lyon said. “Minot is going to have its hands full to win that challenge match.”
Dickinson, which beat Bismarck High 4-1 in the second round, will play Mandan in the other state play-in game. Mandan defeated Dickinson 8-1 earlier this season.
“We are tough in a 3-2 lineup but that depends on who shows up,” Dickinson head coach Kristal Fields said. “This is a pleasant surprise because I didn’t know, after we came flying out of the gates against Williston, if we were going to be able to maintain that intensity for (the match against Bismarck). The kids have shown up and they’ve played well and now we get a chance to advance to the state qualifying round.”
Mandan topped Jamestown 3-2 in the first round before falling 5-0 to Century in the second round.
Bishop Ryan’s season came to an end as it fell 5-0 to Century in the opening round and then lost 4-1 to Jamestown in the second round. Bishop Ryan’s only win came from the No. 2 doubles team of Amanda Burckhard and Anzley Harmon, which topped Jamestown’s team 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).
The championship match will be played at 9 a.m. today at the Cameron Indoor Tennis Center. Both state play-in matches will be played at 9 a.m. at Hammond Park.
The West Region individual and doubles tournaments begin today at noon on various courts in Minot.
