Bison tennis girls win N.P. Invite titles

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — With McCook winning two titles, the Bison tennis girls were only two points from catching Class A Kearney for top honors at Friday’s North Platte Invitational.

McCook totaled 49 points to Kearney’s 51 as the Bison remained unbeaten this season at both No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles.

Seniors Kacee Samway and Lauren Koetter blasted through three Class B foes while only losing two of 26 games.

Yet they also proved tough against Class A competition, including an 8-6 thrilling win over Kearney’s Julia Bauer and Danielle Challey for the No. 1 singles title.

Meanwhile, No. 2 singles player Kassidy Michaelis has shown she’s not suffering any sophomore slump after last year’s brilliant freshman run to the Class B finals.

Michaelis raised her record to 10-0 this spring with a 5-0 sweep through Lexington, Hastings, Alliance, Grand Island and Kearney.

Only Grand Island’s Sam Strong won more than one game, fallling 8-3 to Michaelis.

Of course, 49 team points meant McCook’s other varsity players also delivered some clutch wins.

No. 2 doubles Syd Thompson and senior Katie Kenjdal finished 4-1, losing only against champion Kearney. They scored 8-0 wins over both Alliance and Grand Island along with 8-2 vs. Lexington.

Junior Cassidy Beeby conquered the tough No. 1 singles division. She won four of five matches and pushed Lexington’s Lilli Fattig through an 8-6 match.

Fattig defeated Beeby during an earlier Bison home dual for her only other defeat.

Beeby beat Grand Island’s Morgan Eihusen 8-6, swept Hastings’ Emma Hays 8-0, won 8-2 over Courtney Little Hoop of Alliance and doubled up Holdrege’s Sarah Sinsel, 8-4.

The Bison will see those Dusters again at Tuesday’s 2 p.m. Holdrege Triangular.

Complete team scores at North Platte on Friday: 1. Kearney 51, 2. McCook 49, 3. Lexington 34, 4. Holdrege 33, 5. Grand Island 32, 6. Ogallala 20, 7. Alliance 16, 7. North Platte 16, 9. Scottsbluff 10, 10. Hastings 9.