The Joplin High School girls tennis team was the runner-up at the Bird-Dog Invitational on Friday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.
Carl Junction was the team champion. Also competing were Carthage, Webb City, Lamar, Mount Vernon, Monett and Willard.
Joplin senior Emma Watts was the champion of the No. 1 singles bracket.
Watts defeated Willard’s Gracie Chunn 8-0 and Carl Junction’s Isabel Read 8-0 to advance to the championship match.
In the title match, Watts beat Monett’s Lizzie Smith 8-2.
Joplin’s No. 2 doubles team of Mya Ndedi Ntepe and Alex Carson finished second in their bracket.
The Eagles defeated Lamar’s Elliana Griffith and Erica McCaslin 8-4 in the first round and then topped Carl Junction’s Emmy Higgins and Emily Rice 8-6.
In the title match, Mount Vernon’s Allison Schubert and Isabella Mosley defeated the Eagles 8-1.
Joplin’s No. 1 doubles team of Jensen Vowels and Brynn Driver went 1-2.
Webb City’s Ally Ansley and Brynlee Hollingsworth defeated Vowels-Driver 8-5. The Eagles beat Lamar’s Cora Pittsenbarger-Chelsey O’Sullivan 7-5 and then ended the tourney with a 6-3 win over Mount Vernon’s Vicki Moore-Molly Burk.
At No. 2 singles, Joplin’s Bonnie Smith went 1-2.
Lamar’s Veronica Ogden defeated Smith 8-5, but Smith beat Carthage’s Beverly Garcia 7-6. Webb City’s Ayla McDonald defeated Smith 6-4.
Carl Junction’s Alyssa Graves won the No. 2 singles bracket, with Willard’s Jayden Troutt the runner-up.
Carthage’s Kianna Yates and Daniela Marquez won the No. 1 doubles bracket. Carl Junction’s Jenna Besperat and Naiyah Wurdeman were the second-place team.
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