Sikeston's Alsup, Bill take third in doubles

sports@standard-democrat.com

POTOSI -- The Sikeston tennis team ended their season on a positive note Monday, as the doubles team of Jacob Alsup and Josh Bill finished third in the Class 1, District 1 doubles tournament.

Alsup and Bill won their first two matches of the day in straight sets before falling to eventual district champions Drew Fuemmler and Vee Patel of Farmington.

In the third place match, Alsup and Bill won a thrilling three set match 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 over Colin Schlosser and Nick Turnbough of Potosi.

"Jacob Alsup and Josh Bill played their best matches of the season today and finished third out of a field of 13 doubles teams," said Sikeston coach Russ Dial.

Sikeston's other doubles team of Ben Priday and Brandon Goodwin lost their first round match in straight sets as did Giovanni Walker and James Hines in the singles tournament.

"We had a tough season due to so many illnesses and injuries early on," Dial said. "It was hard to find the right combinations of doubles players due to the line-up always having to be shuffled and our singles line-up suffered without having varsity players available for many of our matches.

"However, it gave our young JV players more experience, which hopefully will pay dividends next season."

Dexter's Tyler Miller won the singles tournament, defeating Potosi's Jake Mercer, North County's Conner McBride and North County's Lucas Rodgers in the finals.

Dexter's Kyle Willis won his opening round match over Caleb Marler of Potosi before falling to Rodgers in the quarterfinals.

The Bearcats' doubles team of Sam Ward and Brauck Burge finished second, losing in the finals to Farmington's Fuemmler and Patel after defeating Cody Herzog and Alex Slinkard of Farmington and Colin Schlosser and Nick Turnbough of Potosi.

Charleston's Eric Tidwell earned the Bluejays' only win on the day, defeating Sikeston's Walker 6-2, 6-3 before losing in the quarterfinals to McBride.

Sikeston results

Singles

First Round

Eric Tidwell (Ch) def. Giovanni Walker (S) 6-2, 6-3; Skylar Adams (AV) def. James Hines (S) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

First Round

Jacob Alsup/Josh Bill (S) def. Josiah Barker/Alex Stark (AV) 6-0, 6-0; Cody Herzog/Alex Slinkard (F) def. Ben Priday/Brandon Goodwin (S) 6-1, 6-3

Quarterfinals

Alsup/Bill (S) def. Kyle Portell/Dylan Jolly (P) 6-1, 6-3

Semifinals

Drew Fuemmler/Vee Patel (F) def. Alsup/Bill (S) 6-4, 6-2

Third place

Alsup/Bill (S) def. Colin Schlosser/Nick Turnbough (P) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4