A solid Republic squad handed Joplin an 8-1 loss on Thursday night in a Central Ozark Conference girls tennis dual at the JHS Athletic Complex.
Joplin’s lone win came at No. 1 doubles, as Astrid Cardenas and Emma Watts defeated Elsie Crawford and Mia Stan 8-1.
At No. 2 doubles, Republic’s Abigail McCord and Morgan Lewis defeated Abry Stayton and Mya Ndedi-Ntepe 8-2, while Jasmine Howard and Isabelle Wells topped Cloey Blank and Brynn Driver 8-3 in the No. 3 doubles match.
In singles play, Crawford defeated Cardenas 8-2, Howard beat Watts 8-3 and McCord edged Stayton 9-7.
Lewis defeated Ndedi-Ntepe 8-4, Stan topped Blank 8-2 and Ashlyn Leonard nipped Driver 9-7.
“We had a tough match against a tough team,” Joplin assistant coach Richard Perry said. “Astrid and Emma did a great job getting their win tonight. Abry played hard in a close loss. She played some of the best tennis I’ve seen her play, doing a really good job raising her level to keep the match close. Brynn was the last match done and she played well under the pressure of a big crowd. Each point was hard-fought and intense. Now we have to get over this loss and move on to our tournament tomorrow.”
The Eagles will compete at the Bird-Dog Classic on Friday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.