The Emporia High girls tennis team saw its season come to a close Thursday afternoon in Regional play, as no Lady Spartan in singles or doubles play made it past the second round for a shot at going to State.
Emporia as a team closed out the Regional meet at the EHS tennis courts tied with Bonner Springs with three points, finishing ahead of only Highland Park (1). Topeka West won the team title with 13 points, followed by Seaman (7), Shawnee Heights (5) and Lansing (4).
“There is some disappointment because they’re not getting to go on and play another week,” EHS coach Melinda Flohr said. “But we’ve been talking to them all year long about not leaving anything on the court and to leave feeling like you did your absolute best, and I think all of the girls felt that way after today.”
In singles play, both Jordan Sosa and Amanda Roberts won their first match before falling in the second round.
Sosa opened play with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Ashlee Espinoza of Bonner Springs. Sosa dropped Match No. 2, however, losing 6-2, 6-1 to Topeka West’s Rafi Mayer.
Roberts defeated Jenni Mead of Seaman, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, in her first match of the day. Roberts took her second opponent, Lansing’s Amy Briggs, to a third set as well before losing, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
“Amanda just fought and fought,” Flohr said. “That shows a lot of character. Her second match was a great match. She was evenly matched with that girl (Briggs).”
In doubles play, Sarah Watkins and Lauren Kitchens teamed up to defeat a duo from Highland Park in their first match, 6-0, 6-0. The tournament’s top-seeded team from Topeka West made quick work of Watkins and Kitchens after that, though, as the EHS pair lost, 6-3, 6-3.
Flohr said there were plenty of positives for Watkins and Kitchens to take away from their match against Topeka West.
“Sarah and Lauren, their match against the team from Topeka West was the best match I’ve seen them play all season,” Flohr said. “They played that team the closest of anyone.”
Emporia’s other doubles team of Whitney Page and Rose Nasrazadani fell in their opening match, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, to a duo from Seaman.
“We had some opportunities,” Flohr said. “We played some good matches today, we just couldn’t get far enough to qualify anyone for State.”
Regional Tennis
Thursday at Emporia
Team Scores
Topeka West 13, Seaman 7, Shawnee Heights 5, Lansing 4, Emporia 3, Bonner Springs 3, Highland Park 1
Singles
Jordan Sosa, Emp, def. Ashlee Espinoza, B.S., 6-2, 6-0; Rafi Mayer, T.W., def. Sosa, 6-2, 6-1.
Singles
Amanda Roberts, Emp, def. Jenni Mead, Sea, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4; Amy Briggs, Lan, def. Roberts, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
Doubles
Watkins/Kitchens, Emp, def. Munsell/Ellis, H.P., 6-0, 6-0; Dicus/Doole, T.W., def. Watkins/Kitchens, 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles
Eakes/Strobel, Sea, def. Page/Nasrazadani, Emp, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.