MCHS no. 1 singles player qualifies for state tourney

MCHS no. 1 singles player qualifies for state tourney

May 10, 2001

STAFF REPORT

GRAND JUNCTION — Itsuki Hyakuno, a senior Japanese exchange student on the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls varsity tennis team, will represent the school at this week’s annual Class 4A Girls Tennis State Tournament in Pueblo.

"She really had a great tournament," MCHS head coach Ricky Carver commented. "We thought she had a good shot at making it to state but she had to come through a very tough bracket in no. 1 singles."

She crushed a player from Paonia 6-1, 6-2 in the opening match. Hyakuno took on Glenwood Springs in the second round and defeated that girl 6-0, 6-4. That put her into the Regional finals against Laura Gordon, defending state champ and national tournament winner last summer. Hyakuno lost 0-6, 0-6 at the Elliott Tennis Center on the campus of Mesa State College.

"She lost some confidence with her serves and ground strokes, which have been the best parts of her game during the regular season. We will work today (Tuesday, May 8) and then leave for Pueblo on Wednesday, May 9, and have a light workout there."

Only the top two finishers automatically qualified for state. The Class 4A State Tournament will be held at Pueblo City Park beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 10, for no. 1 singles (on eight courts). Cheyenne Mountain is the defending team 4A champs. The tournament continues through Saturday, May 12.

Montrose High School won its seventh 4A Regional title — with 58 points — in the last 10 years. Aspen was second with 41, followed by Steamboat Springs with 32. Glenwood Springs and Montezuma-Cortez tied for fourth with 20.

What gave Montrose the title was that its no. 3 and 4 doubles teams were also region champs. Kim Barberi (No. 2 singles) and Gina Davenport and Jessica Eide (No. 1 doubles) also qualified for state by winning playback matches.

Aspen qualified five positions as a team and Steamboat Springs qualified three positions.

Panther no. 2 German exchange student Jenny Trendleburndt lost to Paonia 4-6, 3-6 and she did not get a playback so she was eliminated.

No. 3 Emily Harclerode had a good tournament and finished in fourth place. She lost a heartbreaker to Delta 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (2-7 tiebreaker) in the opening round.

"She had a very good match but just tightened up in the end. She hit the ball away, something she has been struggling with all season, which was great. But she double faulted on her serves twice in the tiebreaker and she lost her confidence," Carver noted.

Harclerode, though, got a playback. She beat Cedaredge 6-4, 6-4 but lost to Steamboat Springs 2-6, 0-6.

The Panthers’ no. 1 doubles team of Chesleigh Keene and Amanda Frazier defeated Roaring Fork 6-2, 6-3. Carver said the girls felt good about their game. But they lost Steamboat Springs 0-6, 1-6 and did not get a playback.

No. 2 doubles tandum of Tracy Berhost and Ashley Reed defeated Roaring Fork 6-3, 6-4. They beat Cedaredge 6-4, 7-5 but lost to Aspen 0-6, 2-6 and did not get a playback. But Carver said he couldn’t understand why the girls did not get a playback when in all likelihood, should have. Carver also noted the girls played one of their best games in beating Cedaredge.

No. 3 doubles Colette Hall and Ariste Petillo defeated Roaring Fork 6-3, 6-1. They took on Hotchkiss and won 6-4, 6-1. They lost a match they shouldn’t have against Paonia, in straight sets 4-6, 4-6. They received a playback against Aspen and fell 4-6, 3-6 to finish in fourth place. Carver was disappointed that this team did not qualify for State.

No. 4 doubles Cassie Carver and Liz Dennison defeated Paonia 6-3, 6-2. They had lost to Paonia during the regular season. They fell to a good Hotchkiss team 1-6, 2-6 and did not get a playback.

"We had a good season but I thought we would have done a little better at Regionals. When it came down to crunch time, we just did not have the experience to win. We only lose Itsuki and Jenny next season so the girls are motivated. They will need to play a lot of tennis this summer and some during next fall and winter. But I think we should have a good team next year," he commented about the season.