Glacier girls, boys nip Flathead 5-3, 5-3

Rained out on Thursday, Glacier and Flathead managed to get their first crosstown matchup of the season in 24 hours later on the courts at Flathead Valley Community College on Friday.

Glacier won both Western AA battles by the same score — 5-3 in girls and boys.

Glacier had victories at No. 1 and 4 singles and Nos. 2-3-4 doubles in girls play.

Glacier swept the boys doubles and won at No. 1 singles to account for all of its scoring in that one.

“It was pretty competitive,” Glacier coach Josh Munro said.

“Flathead is improving. This was a good match for both schools to have.”

Three matches went three sets, with Flathead winning two.

“There were a couple close sets in the other ones,” Munro said.

Glacier’s top singles players — Maggie Rudbach and Rory Smith — defeated Flathead’s Emma Hawkins (7-5, 6-4) and Nolan White (6-2, 6-1).

“Maggie was down in both sets, came back strong in each set,” Munro said.

“It was extremely competitive with some really good points and comebacks. No 1 girls doubles was a well-played match.”

The second crosstown match is set for April 30 at 3 p.m.

Glacier and Flathead have dual outings today at 9:30 a.m. and noon with Great Falls C.M. Russell and Great Falls High at FVCC.

“We competed well today,” Flathead coach Jimmy Cripe said. “Our singles play was very good. We won two with the girls and three with the boys. That was surprising and impressive.”

Girls

Glacier 5, Flathead 3

SINGLES — Maggie Rudbach, G, def. Emma Hawkins, 7-5, 6-4; Sierra Dilworth, F, def. Nina Friedman, 6-2, 6-1; Marcella Mercer, F, def. Mariah Dickey, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2; Sydney Pepe, G, def. Aaris Hill, 7-6 (2), 7-5.

DOUBLES — Tess Huckeba/Olivia Mohatt, F, def. Liv Wilson/Kirsti Ericksen, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2; Hannah Nikunen/Ashlyn Sliter, G, def. Avery Cherot/Mikel Twichel, 6-2, 6-2; Regin Koester/Katie Lessmeier, G, def. Sophie Dykhuizen/Abby Clark, 6-1, 6-2; Bella Waldher/Avery Kreitinger, G, def. McKayden Nash/Claire Moore, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Boys

Glacier 5, Flathead 3

SINGLES — Rory Smith, G, def. Nolan White, 6-2, 6-1; Josten Cripe, F, def. Kamren Barkus, 6-4, 6-1; Brett Thompson, F, def. Alex Galloway, 6-1, 7-6 (3); Gabe Felton, F, def. Chris Skelton, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.

DOUBLES — Kyle Buckingham/Akhil Patel, G, def. Ryan Thomsen/Brian Wells, 6-2, 6-4; Drew Engellant/Micah Heil, G, def. Liam Rehbein/Owen Schilling, 6-1, 6-1; Ben Desmul/Ethan Purdy, G, def. Tommy Wells/Drew Lower, 6-0, 6-0; Kyle Turner/Logan Samples, G, def. Alex Brown/Evan Sevaly, 6-4, 6-2.