Patriots make it 15 in a row

Century sweeps Williston to win West Region title

By CHRIS BIERI, Staff Writer cbieri@minotdailynews.com
After winning the past 14 West Region girls tennis titles, no one on the Bismarck Century team wanted to be known as the group that let the streak die.

Th2008 Patriots won’t have to worry about it.

The Patriots made it 15 straight Friday, soundly defeating Williston 5-0 for yet another West Region crown.

“We just want to keep on winning,” Century’s Alicia Horner said. “Every match we just try to play our best.”

Pats No. 1 player Hallie Welk said the streak has motivated the team, even if it puts a little extra pressure on the players’ backs.

“We just go out and play,” she said. “Everybody gets nervous, but we just try to play our best.”

Century’s closest match of the season was a 8-1 defeat of Williston during the regular season. Some of the team’s best competition is when its players face each other in practice.

“It’s good to have that competition,” Horner said. “I think it’s made us all better.”

While Century swept through the championship without dropping a set, things were a little tougher for the two winners of the state qualifying matches.

Dickinson topped Mandan 4-1 and Minot High used solid performanes from its top singles players to earn a trip to state, downing Jamestown 3-2.

Minot No. 1 player Brianna Thomas earned a 6-2, 6-0 win and Laura Pearson won her No. 2 singles match 6-3, 6-4. Minot sealed the victory with a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 2 doubles by the team of Linsay Eckmann and Shantel Montgomery.

The win avenged a 6-3 loss to Jamestown during the regular season.

MHS head coach Jerry Lyon, in his final season at the helm, said his team brought its game to a new level Friday.

“Today, Minot High School girls tennis had one of the finest athletic efforts and achievements a high school team could have,” Lyon said. “We matched up with some of those girls who had beat us earlier in the season. Even in the losing matches, we were right there.

“It’s a coaches dream to have his players playing the best of their career at tournament time. They are very classy girls and they’ve worked hard. I’m proud of them.”

Individual competition got under way Friday following the team matches, and with a few exceptions, the matches went according to seed.

In singles action, top seeded Welk, No. 2 seed Horner and No. 3 seed Tyne Oberlander of Bismarck High all reached the semifinals. That trio will be joined by Mandan’s Jacey Porter. Porter, a No. 5 seed pulled a slight upset on Jamestown’s Cally Musland, winning 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

In doubles, the top seeded team of Williston’s Rachel Hennessy and Tarren Jundt had a tough match against a familiar foe — their teammates. Hennessy and Jundt topped the Coyotes No. 2 team of Alissa Kyllo and Megan Ryckman 6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-2 to move into the semis.

No. 3 seeds Pearson and Thomas moved into the semis where they will meet Century’s Steph Goodin and Megan Bosch. Dickinson’s Tiffany Reisenauer and Chelsey Galipeau also moved into the semis as No. 5 seeds.

Both Bishop Ryan doubles teams are alive for trips to state. After dropping their opening match, Lions’ Amanda Massey and Amanda Burckhard won a thrilling 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5 match over Mandan’s Kattie Koffler and Allison Suda to stay alive.

Ryan’s Katie and Kristin Rubbelke had a little easier time, winning 6-4, 6-3 to stay alive in the consolation bracket.

Minot High’s Julie Olson and Williston’s Katie Slemin are still alive for a trip to state in the singles consolation bracket.