Last year the East Troy girls tennis team went into the conference tournament in third place and came out Rock Valley Conference champions.
Last Saturday, they again went into this year’s tournament in third place, but came just short of pulling off the same result in the final matches.
The best match of the day was at No. 1 doubles.
East Troy’s Paige Kloth and Abi Goode defeated top seeded Stephanie Nelson and Morgan Nathan of Whitewater 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(2) for a first place finish.
“This was the best doubles match I have seen in my 19 years of coaching,” said head coach Dave Lindow. “Both teams were outstanding and most points were won with winners.”
Kloth and Goode only had one loss on the season, which was against Whitewater. They were defeated 1-6, 3-6 back in August.
“This was a huge win for them and it will help them in seeding at sectionals,” said Lindow.
The doubles team defeated McFarland 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the finals against Whitewater.
McFarland won the conference meet with 30 points, while Whitewater finished in second place with 26 points. The Trojans finished in third place with 25 points.
“We had two matches left with McFarland and needed to win both to win the conference title,” stated Lindow. “Both matches went three sets but we came up just short.”
The Trojans were in the finals in five of the seven flights.
They won the title at No. 1 doubles and finished in second place in the other four flights.
“Everyone scored points for us,” said Lindow. “We had an incredible tournament and I’m very proud of these girls.”
Alissa Yakes, No. 1 singles, finished in fifth place. She lost to Paige Ganser, 0-6, 1-6 before defeating Ashley Albright of Edgerton 7-5, 6-4.
Shauna Jacobs, No. 2 singles, finished in second place. She downed Emily Mogden of Edgerton 6-0, 6-0 and then avenged an earlier loss in the season defeating Keena Schacht of Jefferson 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the finals. Jacobs lost to Megan Speich of McFarland 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 in the finals.
Vanessa Tess, No. 3 singles, beat Emily Markham of Whitewater 6-3, 6-2 before losing to Andrea Butcher of McFarland 3-6, 0-6. Tess finished in second place.
At No. 4 singles, Nicole Barr took a similar path defeating Julia Snell of Edgerton 6-3, 6-0 before losing to McFarland’s Katie Heitman 6-3, 4-6, 1-6. Barr also finished in second place.
At No. 2 doubles, Bryn Riemer and Kora Gaspervich downed Edgerton 6-1, 6-2 in the first round. They then lost to Whitewater 3-6, 2-6 and dropped their final match of the day to Big Foot 2-6, 4-6. They finished in fourth place.
Carlie Schultz and Jenny Frank, No. 3 doubles, defeated Big Foot 6-2, 6-4 before losing to Whitewater in the finals 5-7, 3-6. They finished in second place.
The Trojans have a 16-4 record so far on the season and will take on Lake Mills and Catholic Central this week finishing up the regular season.
The Trojans will travel to Madison for sub-sectionals next Monday with play beginning at 11 a.m.
