Locals ready for state tennis tournament in Lexington

June 1, 2021 | 12:04 am

Updated May 31, 2021 | 10:32 pm

Tyler Dixon | Owensboro Times

More than a dozen local tennis athletes will be in Lexington starting today for the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament.

The boy’s tournament is at the Top Seed Tennis Club while the girl’s tournament is at the UK Boone/Downing Tennis Complex.

The semifinals and finals will be at Top Seed Tennis Club with those starting Thursday morning.

On the boy’s side, Owensboro Dylan Mather is the lone male singles player as he takes on South Oldham’s Brady Kroll in the first round.

Mather won the Red Devils their first singles region championship since 2002 when he cruised to victory just over a week ago.

In boy’s doubles, Owensboro Catholic’s Brett Conder/Tucker Ray hit the court at 11 a.m. when they take on Letcher County Central’s Hayden Bentley/Zach Hall.

The 3rd Region champions, Daviess County’s Graham Sandefur/Camden Clark, take on Bourbon County’s Luke Earlywine/Noah Earlywine in their first round matchup.

Three local girl’s singles players will see action this morning, including the 3rd Region champion in Catholic’s Ella Cason. Cason will take on Bullitt East’s Emma Wright.

Apollo’s Mia Lampert will face Elizabethtown’s Jai Garris while Daviess County’s Charly Hayden will battle Woodford County’s Claire Pinkston.

There are three girls’ doubles teams hitting the court this week with Catholic’s Olivia Hayden/Aisha Merchant taking on Hazard’s Hannah Stidham/Maci Woods while Apollo’s Caitlyn Blandford/Lauren Clements face Danville’s Jena Akers/Lara Akers.

The Catholic duo of Emmy Moore/Sarah Kate Young are coming off of a region title where they’ll face Graves County’s Audrey Lamb/Maddy Will.

The seniors said they have a good outlook for the week.

“I am going to go out there and play the best I can and give it my everything for the last time,” Moore said. “There will be some tough competition but I’m going to go out there with everything I got and most importantly, have fun.”

Young agreed and said they have to focus on one match at a time and once they progress, make sure they’re playing to win and not to lose.

Young said they’ve been working on return of serve since their regional win and using different strategies on the offensive side of the court.

Moore said they’re focusing on the little things.

“We have focused a lot on doubles techniques and being aggressive at the net,” he said. “We’ve reviewed a lot of the basic ‘strategies’ that sometimes get looked over but are the most important.”

Moore is making her first appearance at state while Young is making a return trip. Moore said it helps having someone on her side at all times and Young echoed the sentiment.

“It’s great to have support but there’s also a nervousness that comes along with it because you don’t want to disappoint your partner,” she said.

Both of them said the’re just excited to be able to get the court together.

“I am looking forward to being with my teammates and going out there and giving it my all for one last go around,” Moore said. “I am so fortunate to have been able to play with the best partner and friend.”

I’m looking forward to cheering on my team through some of their first state experiences and hopefully progressing really far through the tournament with my best friend and partner,” Young said.

KHSAA State Tennis Tournament Opening Matchups (All Times Eastern)
BOYS
Singles

9 a.m. Dylan Mather (Owensboro) v Brady Kroll (South Oldham)
Doubles
11 a.m.: Brett Conder/Tucker Ray (Owensboro Catholic) v Hayden Bentley/Zach Hall (Letcher County Central)
11:30 a.m.: Graham Sandefur/Camden Clark (Daviess County) v Luke Earlywine/Noah Earlywine (Bourbon County)

GIRLS
Singles

8 a.m.: Ella Cason (Catholic) v Emma Wright (Bullitt East)
8:45 a.m.: Mia Lampert (Apollo) v Jai Garris (Elizabethtown)
8:45 a.m.: Charly Hayden (Daviess County) v Claire Pinkston (Woodford County)
Doubles
11 a.m.: Olivia Hayden/Aisha Merchant (Owensboro Catholic) v Hannah Stidham/Maci Woods (Hazard)
11:30 a.m.: Caitlyn Blandford/Lauren Clements (Apollo) v Jena Akers/Lara Akers (Danville)
Noon: Emmy Moore/Sarah Kate Young (Owensboro Catholic) v Audrey Lamb/Maddy Williams (Graves County)

June 1, 2021 | 12:04 am

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