By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Dominant.
That one word pretty much sums up the Allegan girls tennis team’s performance at the SAC/Lakeland Conference Tournament on Friday, May 10.
The Tigers won six flights to go with one runner-up and one fourth-place finish as they rolled to the league championship over runner-up Hackett.
Allegan was the only team in the 13-team field to have all eight flights in the winners bracket. The Tigers went a combined 21-3 for the day.
“What an amazing day for this group of girls,” Allegan coach Damien Arthur said. “We showed so much energy, confidence and smart play for all 24 of our matches.
“We really pushed the whole week leading up to the tournament that we need to have better energy throughout the day. The girls showed up with great energy in warm-up and it carried to our third matches at the end of the day.”
Addy Fales led the Allegan charge at No. 1 singles. She accounted for one of the flight titles, losing just one total game in her three matches.
Also winning singles titles for the Tigers were Bristyn Neldon at No. 2 and Lilly Dame at No. 4.
Winners of doubles flights were No. 1 Ragan Meeter/Luna Ruiz, No. 2 Taylor Fuller/Hanna Kievit and No. 4 Lilli Kelley/Nora Bonin.
“We showed some grit today,” Arthur said. “Winning some tight matches in the first round, Bristyn and Lilly Dame getting some revenge against Hackett after losing to them earlier in the year, taking care of business in set tiebreakers.
“Plus, it’s always a good day when all of your seniors—Ragan and Luna at No. 1 doubles, Bristyn at No. 2 singles, Lilly Dame at No. 4 singles and Nora at No. 4 doubles—take home a conference championship in their last go around.”
No. 3 doubles Ireland Dewey/Madison Cook finished second. Their lone loss was a 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 decision to Buchanan.
No. 3 singles Sophia Augustine placed fourth.
“We as coaches are so proud of this young team,” Arthur said. “They trusted our practice plans, our schedule and our guidance to make them champions. They deserve a lot of credit for what we accomplished today.
“We really couldn’t have asked for a better day. It truly was a great day to be an Allegan Tiger.”
Next up for the Tigers is a Division 3 regional on Thursday, May 16, which Allegan will host. Other participating teams include Otsego, Plainwell, Hamilton, Wayland, Grand Rapids South Christian, Hastings, Paw Paw and Stevensville-Lakeshore.
