Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
LARWILL -ÊWhen the Warsaw girls tennis team played Whitko Wednesday night at Whitko Middle School, the Tigers showed the Wildcats what a few years of experience can do. The Tigers topped the Wildcats 5-0 in a match that lasted just over half an hour.
"Well, we have more experience right now," said Warsaw coach Joe Beeson, "and I think that showed tonight."
Warsaw won al of the matches in straight sets, allowing Whitko to win just six games as a team in the match.
At No. 1 singles, Warsaw's Jessica Davis defeated Whitko's Staci Warner 6-0, 6-0. Then Kristi Haddad (No. 3 singles) defeated Emily Crist 6-0, 6-0 to earn another Tiger team point.
Kara Kesler and Amber Barrett teamed up to play Warsaw's No. 1 doubles position. Kesler and Barrett topped Whitko's Jodi Frantz and Hilari Ayres 6-0, 6-0 to get Warsaw's third team point of the match.
"Coming into this match, I told the girls to keep focused and concentrate," said Beeson. "We are using this as a tool to prepare for the conference tournament Friday and Saturday."
Brandy Bayles and Kelli Robinson, Whitko's No. 2 doubles pair, managed to break up the Wildcat's scoreless streak against Warsaw's Angie Suchecki and Tracy Yoder. Bayles and Robinson won two games in the match, but Suchecki and Yoder won the match 6-1, 6-1.
In the closest match of the night, Warsaw's Lauren Witzky and Whitko's Brooke Workman faced off at the No. 2 singles slot. Workman won two games in the first match and two games in the second match. However, Witzky got the fifth Warsaw point of the match, 6-2, 6-2.
"I was very pleased with the demeanor of all the players on the court tonight," said Beeson. "All the kids seem to be having fun, and that's the purpose of playing."
The Tigers improve to 11-2 with the win. Warsaw will take the court again Friday in the Northern Lakes Conference Tournament at NorthWood. The final matches of the tournament will be played Saturday in Warsaw.
"I think the girls are ready," said Beeson. "But it is a tournament, and anything can happen. And everybody there will be shooting for Warsaw."
Whitko falls to 2-7 overall and will play at West Noble tonight.
WARSAW 5, WHITKO 0
Singles
No. 1 -ÊJessica Davis(War) def. Staci Warner 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 -ÊLauren Witzky (War) def. Brooke Workman 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 -ÊKristi Haddad (War) def. Emily Crist 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Kara Kelser/Amber Barrett (War) def. Jodi Frantz/Hilari Ayers 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 -ÊAngie Suchecki/Tracy Yoder(War) def. Brandy Bayles/Kelli Robinson 6-1, 6-1
JV -ÊWARSAW 5, WHITKO 0
Singles
No. 1 -ÊKaitlyn MacDonald (War) def. Tiffany Hatton 8-0
No. 2 -ÊGina Cesaretti (War) def. Beth Hockemeyer 8-0
No. 3 -ÊAutumn Nance (War) def. Steph Boggs 8-4
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊBetsy LaSalle/Jill Getz (War) def. Jen Wendel/Angie Trump 8-5
No. 2 -ÊSara Hamman/Deb Allen (War) def. Katie Menzie/Jill Mulligan(9) 8-1
