Lady Leopards Tennis Tournament Recap: Kibler 1st District Qualifier Since 2016 – Girls Tennis
<<< Previous At Barberton | Girls Tennis Schedule
The Louisville Leopards Girls Tennis Team competed in the DI Canton Sectional Tournament at Jackson North Park October 6-10. Junior Rachel Kibler won her first three matches in becoming Louisville’s first district qualifier since Kayla Pukys punched her ticket to districts in 2016.
DI Canton Sectional Girls Tennis Tournament Results
DI Northeast District Girls Tennis Tournament 2020
Kibler Finishes 4th at Sectional Tournament
Kibler was voted the #4 seed for the DI Canton Sectional singles tournament and earned a first round bye. She then defeated Wadsworth’s Kristen Butcher a perfect 6-0, 6-0 in the second round before downing Boardman’s Alyssa Olsen 6-2, 6-1 in round 3 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Kibler would prevail over Jackson’s Rachael Williams 7-5, 6-1 in the sectional quarterfinals to qualify for districts.
Kibler later fell to North Canton Hoover’s Tess Bucher 6-1, 6-0 in the sectional semifinals. Bucher would go on to defeat Boardman’s Ava Valko 6-0, 6-3 in the finals match to claim the sectional championship.
Valko defeated Canfield’s Anna Kan 6-3, 6-4 to also setup a consolation match with Kibler. Kan defeated Kibler 6-1, 6-1 in the battle for third place, but the top four singles players would all advance to districts.
Mullett Falls 1 Victory Shy of Districts
Kan was also the culprit in ending Lady Leopard senior Sherilynn Mullett’s bid for districts. Kan defeated Mullett in a hard fought 2-6, 7-5 (10-3) sectional quarterfinal match to punch her ticket and leaving Mullett one victory shy of advancing to districts.
Earlier Mullet, who like Kibler also earned a first round bye, won her first two matches in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals. She defeated Alliance’s Jillian Lohnes 6-2, 6-4 in the second round and then defeated Perry’s Kyli Garrett 6-1, 6-0 in the third round.
All Leopards Win Their Opening Round Match
While Kibler and Mullett highlighted Louisville’s efforts at the sectional tournament, all seven Lady Leopards participants won their opening matches for the second straight year.
Jade Thomas won her opening round singles match 6-1, 6-1 over GlenOak’s Kennedy McGuire. She then fell to sectional runner-up Valko (Boardman) 6-1, 6-0 in the second round.
Both Lady Leopards doubles teams also won their opening matches.The duo of Bailey Menegay & Katie Yarnall defeated GlenOak’s Nora Salem & Chelsea Wiery 6-0 ,6-3 in the second round. They then fell to Boardman’s Mia Hammerton & Kira Vasko 6-0, 6-0 in the third round.
The other Louisville tandem of Ashley Dadisman & Sophia Warner earned a near perfect 6-1, 6-0 win over Akron North’s Ro Ma Nan & Sa Wa Nan. They next fell to the top seeded Jackson doubles team of Madison Altman & Paige Reese 6-0, 6-0 in the second round.
Altman & Reese would go on to defeat fellow Polar Bear teammates Emma Henson & Samantha Reese 6-1, 6-2 in the final to claim the doubles sectional championship. Both North Canton Hoover doubles teams also qualified for districts. Lilly Altman & Claire Wood downed their Vikings teammates Izzy Warburton & Angelina Koinoglou 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the third place consolation match.
Kibler Represents Louisville at District Tournament
Kibler would exit early in the opening round of the DI Canton District Tournament held at Springside Fitness & Racquet Club on Thursday, October 15. Kibler fell to Springside sectional champion Elizabeth Stuart (Medina) 6-3, 6-4 to conclude the season.
Mayfield’s Hannah Kassaie defeated Hoover’s Bucher 6-1, 6-0 to claim the district championship. Both players qualified for state along with four other participants. They included Audrey Smitek (Magnificat), Tia Clemens (St. Joseph Academy), Amara Brahmbhatt (St. Joseph Academy), and Anna Kan (Canfield).
Magnificat’s Carolina Moritz and Natalie Smitek were the DI Northeast doubles district champions after defeating Brecksville’s Helen Lee & Lakshmy Arakoni 6-3, 6-1 in the district title match. Four other doubles teams qualified for state and they included: Altman & Reese (Jackson), Henson & Reese (Jackson), Madison Pawlak & Sarah Sgambati (Higland), and Lexi Ospelt & Kayra Koprulu (Magnificat).
