Faith Moldan/Bigfork EaglVikings split week's matchups; Vals win two against Whitefish

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Amidst the shuffling of feet on the tennis courts, and the occasional "good game," or "nice serve," Bigfork High School tennis fans heard a dog's bark. They also felt the bite.

The Whitefish Bulldogs boys tennis team blanked the Bigfork Vikings 7-0 in conference action May 9 in Bigfork. Bigfork came back after the loss to defeat the Libby Loggers 6-1 the following afternoon.

Whether or not that dog is a Whitefish tennis fan is uncertain, but it's clear that despite the shutout Bigfork's boys tennis team gained some needed experience for the upcoming Western A Divisional Tournament in Kalispell while playing the Bulldogs. Bigfork takes its top four singles players and top three doubles players to the divisional tournament today, Thursday, through Saturday.

"It's anyone's game," Bigfork coach Matt Porrovecchio said. "We have to play really well."

Divisional action begins at 3 p.m. today at the Flathead Valley Community College courts and the Summit Athletic Club courts.

"If we show up flat or not ready to play it's two and out," Porrovecchio said.

Bigfork's only loss against the Loggers came at the No. 3 doubles position. Evan Jordt and Ryan Gembala narrowly missed winning the first set 5-7 before falling short 2-6 in their second set.

Sean Barrett earned his win at No. 3 singles. He edged out Chris Schnackenberg 7-6 in the first set before shutting out Schnackenberg 6-0 in the second set.

Also finishing the day with a close match were Seth Gordon and Cole Fransisco. The pair of Vikings topped Levi Edwards and Jesse Ramos 7-6, 6-3.???????????The last two Valkyries standing against Whitefish were Jen Wirth and Nicolette Peterson.Wirth and Peterson won their match against the Lady Bulldogs on May 9, as did doubles partners Quindee Averill and Roxy Thurman. With the crowd thinned — mainly coaches and a few parents remaining — Wirth and Peterson topped their opponents after all the Vals' other matches were completed. The solitude, along with great teamwork, seemed to benefit the duo which won a long first set and made quicker work of Whitefish in the second set. The Vals got the best of Libby's Margeaux Zwang and Anna Valentine 6-0, 6-3 the next day.The wins at the No. 1 and 2 doubles positions were the Vals' only wins against the Lady Bulldogs. Whitefish topped the Vals 5-2.Averill and Thurman won in three sets — 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. The Vals pulled their games together late in the match to top the Lady Bulldogs. Averill and Thurman also won the following afternoon, edging out Nicole Newman and Riley Dinning 6-3, 7-6.Ariana Shults and Lisa Kelecy also recorded wins against the Loggers in the Vals' last matches before the Western A Divisional Tournament in Kalispell today, Thursday, through Saturday. Shults fought hard in her second set for a 6-1, 7-6 victory. Kelecy won 6-1, 6-4.Hannah Barrett and Claire Wilken rounded out Bigfork's sweep of the doubles matches. Barrett and Wilken defeated Katie Horelick and Lindsey Kehn 6-4, 6-3.Divisional action begins at 3 p.m. today at both the Flathead Valley Community College courts and the Summit Athletic Club. The top four in girls singles and doubles qualify for the state tournament in Polson and Ronan May 22-24.