HHS netters get a great day in Lewistown

There haven't been many days in the sun for the Havre High tennis teams. But, Saturday was one of the rare ones, as the Blue Ponies traveled to Lewistown for a productive day of tennis.

At the Lewistown Duals, the Havre boys and girls battled Great Falls Central, with both Pony teams defeating the Mustangs, while the Havre boys lost close matches to Livingston and Lewistown, and the HHS girls split with the Rangers and Eagles.

However, scores aside, HHS head coach George Ferguson was again, happy his teams were on the court, playing in good tennis weather, and working on improving as the season starts to climb towards the stretch run.

"It was a really good day," Ferguson said. "I was looking to see our kids giving great effort and energy on the court, and improving with each match, and they did all that and more. I was really happy with the way we played for the most part, and we got exactly what we needed out of the day."

The Pony girls won two of their three duals, and were led by singles standouts Paige Nelson and Cassidy Acor. Megan Lindbloom and Devyn Solomon and Katie and Alex Donaldson won twice each in doubles, as did Teagan Fee and Tiffany Ralph, while Brynn Nault and McKenzie Tommerup each scored victories in singles.

"I thought our girls played really well," Ferguson said. "Paige had a great day. She played three top players and played well in all three matches. Our big test was against Livingston, and while we didn't come out on top on the scoreboard, all of those matches were hard-fought and we played really well in every one of them. So that shows me we're very close, because Livingston is very strong, and we were right there with them. So I really liked what I saw from our girls. They did great."

Both the HHS boys and girls were missing starters due to District Music Festival, and on the boys side, Havre had a somewhat inexperienced squad on Saturday. However, veterans Trey Murphy and Kennedy McKay led the Ponies as expected, with three commanding wins at No. 1 doubles. The duo of Brady Ophus and Tyrel Kjersem also captured three wins, while Tommy Brown scored a key win at No. 1 singles, and Jake Huston and Reese Bulkley were twice victorious in doubles.

"We're still toying with our boys lineup," Ferguson said. "But, what I saw Saturday was just how much better we were getting. Trey and Kennedy did what we hoped they would and was leave no doubt in any of their matches. They are really coming on strong now. Tommy had three really competitive matches, including two against the defending B-C state champion, and the defending Central A champion. And he played really well in those two matches. Overall, I thought all of our boys hit the ball well, and battled hard. I saw a lot of improvement from last week, and that's the main goal. I just want these guys to keep getting better, and they did that Saturday."

Getting better was, and will continue to be the goal for all of the Pony tennis players, as they hit the busiest stretch of their season. Havre returns to the court Tuesday for duals in Great Falls against Butte Central, CMR and GFH, before heading to Glendive for five matches Friday and Saturday.

"Our kids are in grind mode right now," Ferguson said. "We are in a stretch where we're playing a lot of tennis, against really competitive opponents, and it's good for us. No matter the scores, as long as we continue to play better and better, we'll end up right where we should be when this month is over. So Saturday went really well. I'm proud of the way our kids played, and I'm looking forward to moving on, and seeing us take it up another notch this week."

Lewistown Duals

BOYS

Havre 5, GFCC 3

Singles

Roger Mai, GFCC def. Tommy Brown, HAV, 8-2; Nick Scott, GFCC def. Kendall Holden, HAV, 8-0; Nick Diekhans, GFCC def. Josh Warp, HAV, 8-0; Eli Vincent, GFCC def. Mick Chagnon, HAV, 8-1; Kendall Holden, HAV def. Kiernan Treptow, GFCC, 8-2.

Doubles

Kennedy McKay/Trey Murphy, HAV def. Wyatt Walters/Benson Chu, GFCC, 8-1; Jake Huston/Reese Bulkley, HAV won by fft, def. Vincent/Diekhans, GFCC, 9-8 (5) in exhibition; Brady Ophus/Tyrel Kjersem, HAV def. Jay Jang/Wang Hongui, GFCC, 8-0.

Livingston 4, Havre 3

Singles

Jakim Ricketts, LIV def. Tommy Brown, HAV, 8-2; Brendan Johnson. LIV def. Kendall Holden, HAV, 8-1; Ethan Johnson, LIV def. Josh Warp, HAV, 9-7; River Nichols, LIV def. Mick Chagnon, HAV, 8-2.

Doubles

Kennedy McKay/Trey Murphy, HAV def. Jaden Shumen/Danner Purkett, LIV, 8-1; Jake Huston/Reese Bulkley, HAV def. Morgan Rosberg/Jack Lane, LIV, 8-1; Brady Ophus/Tyrel Kjersem, HAV def. Gus Shulein/Decan Goff, LIV, 8-2.

Lewistown 4, Havre 3

Singles

Tommy Brown, HAV def. Collin Colmes, LEW, 8-2; Westen Chruch, LEW def. Kendall Holden, HAV, 8-0; Dylan Gatz, LEW def. Josh Warp, HAV, 8-6; Logan Errercart, LEW def. Mick Chagnon, HAV, 8-1.

Doubles

Kennedy McKay/Trey Murphy, HAV def. Chase Farrar/Tanner Mannin, LEW, 8-3; Nate Kinderszki/Logan McQuinn, LEW def. Jake Huston/Rese Bulkley, HAV, 8-5; Brady Ophus/Tyrel Kjersem, HAV def. Jacob Miller/Jayce Phillips, LEW, 8-3.

GIRLS

Havre 7, GFCC 0

Singles

Paige Nelson, HAV def. Sam Purpura, GFCC, 8-5; McKenzie Tommerup, HAV def. Hattie Fauque, GFCC, 8-2; Cassidy Acor, HAV def. Ali Milkovic, GFCC, 8-0; Brynn Nault, HAV def. Bailey Keele, GFCC, 8-3.

Doubles

Megan Lindbloom/Devyn Solomon, HAV won by fft, def. Purpura/Fauque, GFCC, 9-8 (5); Alex Donaldson/Katie Donaldson, HAV def. Selina Lu/Alina Aermrya, GFCC, 8-4; Tiffany Ralph/Teagan Fee, HAV won by fft, def. Walters/Keele, GFCC, 8-6 in exhibition.

Livingston 5, Havre 2

Singles

Taylor Walker, LIV def. Paige Nelson, HAV, 9-7; Reagan Smith, LIV def. McKenzie Tommerup, HAV, 8-6; Cassidy Acor, HAV def. Azalea Vance, LIV, 8-2; Teagan Killom, LIV def. Brynn Nault, HAV, 8-6.

Doubles

Katherine Kant/Bobbi Lima, LIV def. Megan Lindbloom/Devyn Solomon, HAV, 8-2; Sylvie Schoenen/Kodie Vonnca, LIV def. Alex Donaldson/Katie Donaldson, HAV, 8-2; Azalea Vance/Malea Coleman, LIV def. Tiffany Ralph/Teagan Fee, HAV, 8-1.

Havre 5, Lewistown 2

Singles

Paige Nelson, HAVC def. Lissy Southworth, LEW, 8-3; Tessa Gatz, LEW def. McKenzie Tommerup, HAV, 8-3; Cassidy Acor, HAV def. Annie Franz, LEW, 8-3; Dalice Church, LEW def. Brynn Nault, HAV, 8-6.

Doubles

Megan Lindbloom/Devyn Solomon, HAV def. Maria Villaruel/Natalie Day, LEW, 8-1; Alex Donaldson/Katie Donaldson, HAV def. Kayla ASrndt/Zoe Seaford, LEW, 8-1; Tiffany Ralph/Teagan Fee, HAV won by fft, def. Arndt/Villaruel, LEW, 8-1.