The No. 2 Boone girls’ tennis team came up just short in its season-opening dual against No. 3 Pella on Thursday, Aug. 13, falling 6-5 in a tightly contested meet played inside the tennis bubble at the Ames Fitness Center.
“It was a 4 ½-hour war among two of the top three teams in the state,” said head coach Shawn Latimer.
At No. 1 singles, freshman Maiya Phanchantraurai earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory.
Senior Livi Schneider added another point for the Toreadors with a 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles, while junior Claire Hardinger won her match at No. 4 singles by a 6-1, 6-0 score.
At No. 2 singles, Boone senior Kaylee Kuehl lost a three-set battle, while her sister, freshman Harper Kuehl, also lost in third-set tiebreaker at No.6 singles.
Junior Olivia Conlin also lost at No. 5 singles in straight sets.
With the score tied 3-3 after singles play, the doubles portion ultimately determined the meet.
Boone’s top team of Kaylee Kuehl and Schneider rallied after dropping the first set to win 1-6, 6-4, 16-14 in a dramatic super tiebreak.
“Kaylee and Livi played one of the wildest matches I’ve ever seen and gutted out a 16-14 third set tiebreaker victory at No. 1 doubles,” Latimer said.
Phanchantraurai and Hardinger also delivered a point for Boone with a straight set win at No. 2 doubles.
However, Pella won three of the five doubles matches to secure the dual victory.
Boone’s No. 3 doubles team of Conlin and Harper Kuehl and No. 4 doubles team of senior Rozzie Stevenson and junior Michaella Anderson both lost in straight sets.
The No. 5 doubles team of Boone senior Halle Bailey and junior Sarah Owen lost a third-set tiebreak after they forced a deciding set by winning a second-set tiebreak.
Complete results were previously posted to kwbg.com
The Toreadors (0-1) were scheduled to play at Fort Dodge (0-2) this morning, but that meet was postponed due to rain.
Boone will travel to Des Moines to face Saydel (0-0) Tuesday, August 18.
Jill Lutz reporting
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