Joplin’s duo of Astrid Cardenas and Emma Watts won the No. 1 doubles bracket at the Central Ozark Conference girls tennis tournament on Wednesday at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.
The Eagles defeated Republic’s Sedalia Shumaker and Morgan Lewis 8-0 in the championship match.
Cardenas-Watts beat Nixa’s Megan Brassard-Olivia Engelman in the semifinals after topping Carthage’s Lucy Butler-Katie Barton in the quarterfinals.
Cardenas and Watts had both missed recent duals, but the pair took care of business on Wednesday.
“Astrid’s coming back from an injury, she hasn’t played a lot and she’s only playing doubles right now,” Joplin coach Jeff Williams said. “Emma missed some matches because of an illness. But they won their matches handily.”
Joplin’s No. 2 doubles team of Jensen Vowels and Lauren Laird finished third in their bracket.
“We came home with medalists in two divisions and that’s always pretty good,” Williams said. “I know that’s pretty gratifying for the girls. Coach (Richard) Perry and I were real proud of what the kids did today.”
Vowels-Laird beat Ozark’s Savannah Goodwin-Isabella Montileone in the first round before falling to Republic’s Abigail McCord-Wrigley Cook. The Eagles defeated Webb City’s Taylor Yockey-Delaney Duke before beating Branson’s Macy Scott-Madelyn Faria 8-3 for third-place.
Kennedy Schwartz competed at No. 1 singles for Joplin, while Cloey Blank was the team’s entrant at No. 2 singles.
Webb City’s Kirsalyn Hood defeated Carthage’s Kianna Yates 6-2 for third-place at No. 2 singles. Webb City had Rachel Drum at No. 1 singles and Kinzlea Smith-Danecca Heffren at No. 1 doubles.
Carl Junction featured Nicole Sherwood at No. 1 singles, Mariah Barnett at No. 2 singles, Hannah Clinage-Hope Sponsel at No. 1 doubles and Jenna Besperat-Valeria Alamina-Poor at No. 2 doubles.
Also playing for Carthage were Isabelle Johnston at No. 1 singles and Anayansi Lopez-Rodas-Daniela Marquez at No. 2 doubles.
Neosho featured Michelle Lindsay at No. 1 singles, Claudia Martensen at No. 2 singles, Ana Ramirez-Mariana Anaya at No. 1 doubles and Jasmine Martinez-Lyndsey Doke at No. 2 doubles.
Ozark’s Melissa Peralta was the No. 1 singles champ, beating Republic’s Elsie Crawford 8-4. Nixa’s Anna Martens claimed the No. 2 singles title by defeating Ozark’s Hannah Metcalf 8-4. Republic’s McCord-Cook were the champs of the No. 2 doubles bracket.
Nixa claimed the team championship, with Republic second and Ozark third.
Joplin will host the individual district tourney on Friday.
“Hopefully we’ll get some girls qualified,” Williams said.
