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By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Add one other milestone to a record-setting season for the Republic Excessive College ladies’ tennis group.
Republic is remaining 4 certain after sweeping Glendale 5-Zero in Monday’s Class 2 quarterfinal match. It’s the primary time Republic has certified for state as a program in both boys’ or ladies’ tennis.
“I’ve solely been enjoying for 3 years, so I by no means anticipated something this huge,” stated Republic senior Sedalia Shumaker. “However to go (to state) with folks I even hang around with exterior of faculty – they’re my associates – it’s crucial. I’m blessed.”
Republic has completed with 12 or extra wins every season since 2016, together with back-to-back district championships this season.
“Yearly, we’ve simply saved banging and banging however we’d hit a wall,” stated Republic coach Dan Vales. “This yr, we have been lastly in a position to climb over that wall and get there. We’re so excited as a group and as a program to achieve that milestone.”
The Woman Tigers are additionally sending a report 5 qualifiers to this weekend’s particular person championships at Cooper Tennis Complicated in Springfield.
On the group aspect, Republic will face St. Pius X (Kansas Metropolis) in a Class 2 semifinal match at Cooper on October 23. The winner performs within the Class 2 state finals Oct. 24.
“It’s going to be a whirlwind,” Vales stated of the following two weeks. “It’ll be arduous for the women and us academics to deal with faculty with a lot tennis forward.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MATCH
Taking part in on its house courts, Republic took management early Monday with a clear sweep in doubles.
“The doubles matches boosted (our confidence) loads,” Shumaker stated. “It was an excellent group effort throughout.”
Republic’s surging No. Three doubles group of Abigail McCord and Wrigley Prepare dinner pulled out an Eight-6 win over Glendale’s Lauren Hamm and Ann Beatty.
Vales stated he discovered the correct doubles group in McCord and Prepare dinner close to the stretch run of Republic’s common season.
“Across the Nixa Invitational, we discovered the group that we felt like might win loads at that degree,” Vales stated. “They received the Nixa Event and so they’ve been successful ever since.”
McCord and Prepare dinner’s solely loss since then was to a different Republic doubles group in a match.
The 5-Zero end result avenged Republic’s common season loss to Glendale on Sept. 21. Republic was down its prime participant – junior Elsie Crawford – for that match.
Having her again strengthened Republic’s lineup for Monday’s playoff rematch.
“(Our gamers) knew it might change issues a bit as a result of it’s type of a domino impact on who’s enjoying who,” Vales stated. “However with that stated, we knew this may be a frightening problem. If we didn’t begin quick in doubles, we have been most likely in for an extended day.”
Republic wanted that early edge as Glendale began to battle again in singles.
“(The ultimate rating) is a bit deceiving, as a result of all of the singles matches have been tremendous shut and (Glendale) was main a number of,” Vales stated. “It was a really aggressive match.”
Trying forward, Republic has loads of expertise on the Cooper courts, Vales stated.
When MSHSAA expanded ladies’ tennis to a few Lessons this fall, the Woman Tigers knew their possibilities of making state elevated.
“We have been anxious to see that district reseeding,” Vales stated. “When it was introduced we have been in Class 2, we knew we had a possibility – an opportunity – to make the ultimate 4 if we performed like we did in the present day.”
Republic 5, Glendale Zero
Doubles
(1) Crawford/Howard def. Huang/C. Stenger, Eight-2
(2) Shumaker/Lewis def. Martino/Liggett, Eight-5
(Three) McCord/Prepare dinner def. Beatty/Hamm, Eight-6
Singles
(2) Howard def. Martino, 6-1 and 6-1
(four) Shumaker def. Liggett, 6-2 and 6-Three
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