SIkeston netters open season with loss to Jackson

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston girls tennis team's season opener didn't go as planned.

Visiting Jackson nearly swept both doubles and singles matches giving Sikeston a 8-1 loss to start their 2014 campaign.

"Today's match was a tough one for us," Sikeston head coach Russ Dial said. "Both teams battled hard in the heat but Jackson came out on top at the end. Although the match score seems to be lopsided, we played many long points against them and a lot of games went to deuce."

Ailenna Landers won Sikeston's only game of the day by defeating Jackson's Makenzie Mumma 6-2. Sikeston's Ali Price was close to giving her team a second win but fell 7-4 in a tie-break after landing in a stalemate with Mikelle Culbreth 6-6.

Sikeston (0-1) will host Dexter today at 4 p.m.

Varsity singles

Mikelle Culbreth (J) def. Ali Price (S), 6-6 (4-7)

Hope Mannon (S) v. Amelia Popp (J), retired

Lauren McClanahan (J) def. Peyton Henson (S), 6-2

Madison Mumma (J) def. Brianna Basham (S), 6-3

Ailenna Landers (S) def. Makenzie Mumma (J), 6-2

Molly Clark (J) def. Emily Braden (S), 6-4

Varsity doubles

Culbreth/Popp (J) def. Price/Mannon (S), 7-5

Mumma/Mumma (J) def. Henson/Basham (S), 6-1

McClanahan/Clark (J) def. Braden/Landers (S), 6-0

Junior Varsity singles

Corie Pike (J) def. Mackenzie Alsup (S), 6-1

Junior Varsity doubles

Blach/Norrich (J) def. Butler/Lancaster (S), 6-0

Basham/Lancaster (S) def. Drake/Wadner (J), 6-4

Piue/Valentine (J) def. Butler/Alsup (S), 6-0

Henson/Landers (S) def. Fetr/Clemets (J), 4-1

Braden/Henson (S) def. Dowdy/James (J), 4-2