The host Eagles finished second at the Joplin Duals Invitational girls tennis tournament on Friday.
Springfield Central took first, followed by Joplin, Webb City and College Heights.
The Eagles earned wins over Webb City and College Heights and suffered a loss to Central.
“It was a long day and the girls were able to play all day without much issue,” JHS assistant coach Richard Perry said. “Overall, we achieved all of our goals we set for ourselves for the day. Now we have to take the long weekend to rest and prepare for next week.”
In the team’s first dual of the day, Joplin defeated Webb City 6-1.
The Eagles won two of three doubles matches.
Joplin’s Astrid Cardenas and Emma Watts defeated Kinzlea Smith 6-2, while Abry Stayton and Brynn Driver beat Ally Ansley and Shelby Ensminger 6-1.
Webb City’s Walker Hoffman and Kaylee Smith defeated Mya Ndedi-Ntepe and Madi Corl 6-1 at No. 3 doubles.
In completed singles matches, Watts beat Kirsalyn Hood 6-0, Cardenas topped Kinzlea Smith 6-0, Stayton defeated Ensminger 6-1 and Driver beat Ansley 6-2.
Next, a solid Springfield Central squad defeated Joplin 6-1.
Joplin’s lone win came at No. 1 doubles, as Watts and Cardenas defeated Brett Boney and Allie German 6-3.
Central’s Elana Hadi-Annie German edged Stayton and Driver 6-4, while Kate Steingraber-Molly Scribner topped Ndedi-Ntepe and Corl 6-1.
In singles, Allie German edged Watts 7-5, Boney defeated Cardenas 6-3, Hadi topped Stayton 6-2 and Joya Pradhan beat Corl 6-0.
In the team’s final dual of the day, Joplin defeated College Heights 5-2.
In doubles, Watts-Cardenas defeated Jem Kionisala and Natalie Brueggemann 6-1.
The Cougars won the other two doubles matches, as Hannah Bass and Avery Baker nipped Stayton-Driver 7-5 and Jeanna Smathers and Ella Bishop topped Ndedi-Ntepe and Corl 6-1.
In singles play, Cardenas defeated Bass 6-0, Stayton beat Brueggemann 6-0, Ndedi-Ntepe got past Bishop 6-3 and Driver beat Smathers 6-1.
Coach Perry noted there were several positives for the Eagles.
“Astrid and Emma won all of their doubles matches together, it was good for them to get back into the swing of things,” Perry said. “Abry and Brynn played really well in all of their matches, coming up just short in two of the doubles. They were able to be solid for us in singles today, clinching two wins each. Mya and Madi are growing with each match they play, which is what I like to see with the newer players.”
OTHER ACTION
Webb City defeated College Heights 5-1.
College Heights won the No. 1 doubles match, as Kionisala and Brueggemann edged Kinzlea Smith and Brynlee Hollingsworth 7-6 (7-4 tie-breaker).
In other doubles matches, Webb City’s Ensminger-Ansley beat Bass-Baker 6-4 and Hoffman-Kaylee Smith defeated Smathers-Bishop 6-3.
In singles, Kinzlea Smith defeated Bass 7-6 (7-4), Ansley beat Smathers 6-4 and Hoffman defeated Baker 6-3.
In the two other duals, Central earned 5-0 wins over both College Heights and Webb City.
