G-Prep Girls Tennis Team Pulls Together For Undefeated Gsl Season
There were no stars, and therefore not a lot of recognition. Collectively, however, Gonzaga Prep’s girls tennis team was unbeatable.
“No one could be singled out, it was such a team effort,” said secondyear coach Donna Lenseigne, who preached selflessness. “A win at number three doubles was just as important as at number one singles.”
The Bullpups surprised even their coach by going 8-0 and winning 50 of 56 matches against Greater Spokane League opponents.
“We were stronger than I thought,” said Lenseigne. “Actually I didn’t think we would have it that easy.”
The Bullpups won five times by shutout. Three doubles teams of Alecia Nelson and South Sider Kristen Casey, Vanessa Waldres and South Sider Wendy Lin, Kara Clavio and South Sider Erin Janosky went undefeated.
Two singles players, freshman Lisa Van Gemert, from the South Side, and Alli Powers were 6-2 in league. The other two, Kendra Leyda and South Sider Krista Kubiak went 7-1.
Gonzaga Prep’s girls and boys combined to win tournaments in Lewiston and the Tri-Cities.
“They had their talent, they were very talented,” said Lenseigne.
“They were also very committed, very supportive and had team spirit. It’s been a wonderful year.”
Van Gemert and the Leyda-Nelson and Powers-Kubiak doubles teams have qualified for regionals.
Ferris has advanced girls singles champion and runner-up Darcy Ruemping and Megan McKitterick and the boys doubles team of Josh Dyck and Nick Mays.
Lewis and Clark singles player Karl Johnson and doubles teams Spencer Piston-Ben Maixner and Joe Harris-Danny Oranen play at regionals this weekend.
Also qualifying are Prep boys singles players Luke Witt and Riggs Kubiak.
Soccer win a close one
Ferris won a 2-1 nail-biter against Moses Lake last Saturday in the first round of the District 8-AAA soccer tournament.
Ferris will play the North Central Indians in the title game Saturday. NC defeated Eisenhower 1-0 in the opening game.
Ferris freshman Ian Clausen scored the winning goal in the shootout after the Saxons and Chieftains tied. Goalkeeper Jonathon Myers made a diving save to stop Moses Lake and set up what turned out to be the winning tally for Ferris.
Brent Molsberry scored at 47 minutes in regulation to give the Saxons the lead at 1-0, but Moses Lake scored six minutes later to tie it and send it into overtime.
Cheney out
District 7’s No. 1 seed, Cheney, lost its bid for a chance at the boys state soccer title last Saturday as Eastmont of East Wenatchee beat the Blackhawks 2-0 at home.
Titans on to state
The University Titans upended the Ferris Saxons 6-5 in the District 8 AAA baseball tournament last Saturday in a winner-to-state playoff game.
The Saxons’ Joel Soter hit a two-run triple in the fourth to tie the game 3-3 in the third inning, but the Titans came back late to clinch the win.
Eric Sandberg had 11 strikeouts for Ferris.
One-hitter helps Blackhawks
The Blackhawks’ Kira Bliss pitched a one-hitter in the opening game as Cheney swept Riverside 12-3 and 11-2, to clinch the fourth and last playoff spot of the Northeast A League softball tournament last Friday.
Teammate Rebecca Smith scored three runs and went 3 for 4 at the plate to help the Blackhawks to the win in the second game.
Green takes tourney
Medical Lake’s Josh Greene won the Northeast A League tennis tournament by defeating Lakeside’s Dave Dillingham 6-3, 6-1 in the championship game.
Josh Mastel and Jeff Racicot won the doubles title with a win over Nate Hickman and Cameron Gardella of Lakeside, 6-0, 6-1.
All three players will compete in the District A tournament Friday at Whitworth College.
, DataTimes