Area roundup: Girls tennis players finish season at state tournament

The 2021 girls tennis season came to an end for the area on Thursday, as all of the local athletes fell in their first two matches in their first trip to the Class 1A state tournament.

Sterling’s Ellie Aitken lost 6-0, 6-0 to Benton’s Taylor Moore in the first round, then fell 6-3, 6-1 to Ridgewood’s Maya Petryszak in the consolation bracket. Teammate Jenica Francis dropped a 6-0, 6-1 decision to Flora’s Madison Eastin, then lost 6-1, 6-0 to Antioch’s Natalie Labicki.

Newman senior Sarah Tunink suffered a 6-0, 6-3 loss to Marion’s Margaux Bruce in the first round, then dropped a tight 7-5, 7-5 decision against Morris’ Grace Lines in the consolation first round.

Dixon’s doubles team of Leah Kuehl and Grace Ferguson fell to Richwoods’ Olivia Reynolds and Theresa Bartelme 6-3, 6-2 in their opening match, before dropping a 6-3, 6-2 decision against Richland County’s Abigail Atwood and Claire Uhl.

Volleyball

Winnebago def. Dixon 23-25, 26-24, 25-22: The Duchesses dropped a heartbreaker on Senior Night at Lancaster Gym, falling to the Indians in three tight sets.

Mallory Coley stuffed the stat sheet with 11 kills, 17 digs, three aces and two blocks, while Sam Tourtillott spiked nine kills, and Elena Castillo-Wetzell led the way with 22 digs to go with two aces for Dixon (16-14-1, 2-7). Holli Miller had 17 assists, seven digs and an ace, Sydney Hargrave dished nine assists, and Ella Govig finished with five kills, five blocks and three digs.

Natalie Davidson chipped in 19 digs and an ace, Ainsley Govig added two kills, three blocks and two digs, and Joey Brumbly finished with two kills, five blocks, a dig and an ace. Hanna Lengquist had two blocks and four digs, and Izzi McCommons chipped in a kill and an ace for the Duchesses.

Polo def. AFC 25-14, 25-15: The Marcos won an NUIC match at home over the Raiders.

Nicole Boelens had six kills and 10 digs for Polo, while Emileigh Williams and Natalie Nelson each spiked three kills, with Williams adding five digs and two aces, and Nelson chipping in five assists, four digs and an ace. Kadence Sheaffer finished with eight digs, seven assists and three aces, and Jasmine Baden served seven points to go with five digs.

Brianna Gonnerman led AFC with six assists, eight digs, two aces and a kill, while Ellah Dorn added three kills, four digs and an ace.

Fulton def. Amboy 25-22, 30-28: The Steamers pulled out a nip-and-tuck NUIC road match against the Clippers.

Reese Dykstra had eight kills and an ace, and Annaka Hackett added five kills, an ace and two digs for Fulton. Kendra Underwood had three kills and a block, Lauren Mahoney served five aces, and Brooklyn Brennan finished with 14 assists, 10 digs, two kills, an ace and a block. Jersey Boyson added five assists and four digs, and Teegan Germann chipped in 15 digs, three assists and a kill.