WEST MILTON — The Preble Shawnee tennis team has stacked up wins through the third week of the season. On Tuesday, Aug. 23, the Arrows defeated Madison 5-0, while on Thursday, Aug. 25, they beat Milton-Union, 3-2.
In the match against Madison, all three Arrows’ singles and both doubles won every set. No. 1 singles Ashlyn Hubbard defeated Madison’s Madi Porter, 6-2, 6-3. No. 2 singles Allison Zornes (PS) beat Emily Phelps (M) 7-5, 6-4, while Alivia Reek (PS) won over Regan Hounshell (M) 6-2, 6-0 in a third singles match.
“We wanted to get off to a quick start in league play and our girls certainly did that tonight,” coach Dave Hubbard said.
In doubles, the No.1 team of Sidney Quillen and Jane Feck (PS) had little trouble putting away Julia Goodpaster and Sidney Blaylock (M) 6-1, 6-0. A much closer contest pitted Lauren Smith/Kirsten Boone (PS), who eventually emerged victorious, against Morgan McQueen/Arianna Mullins (M), 6-4, 6-4 at second doubles.
“Every league point is very important, so to pick up five of them right out of the gate is a big deal for us,” coach Hubbard said. “Several of these individual matches were hard fought and that’s great for the growth of our players and our team. I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from these young ladies.”
On Thursday, Aug. 25, the team traveled to face Milton-Union. Ashlyn Hubbard won out against M-U’s Ashley Wombold, 6-2, 6-2. But Abby Hissong (M-U) bounced the Bulldogs back by beating Zornes (PS), 6-2, 6-1.
No. 3 singles Reek (PS) made it past Rachel Rock (M-U), 6-2, 6-2.
The doubles side turned out to be equally challenging, with the team of Quillen/Feck (PS) defeating Caitlyn Bushelman/Hannah Fugate (M-U) 6-3, 6-1. But Mercedes Farmer/Laura Billing (MU) won against Smith/Boone, 6-3, 6-4, in No.2 doubles.
“This was a quality win for us against a very solid Milton-Union team,” coach Hubbard said. “Ashlyn and Alivia played very smart, aggressive tennis and picked up nice singles wins. Sidney and Jane did a great job again and continue to improve with every match. This is their first season playing doubles together and they seem to really compliment each other.
“Our girls are playing well in the early part of the season,” he said. “We just need to keep working hard and improving every week.”
Preble Shawnee is sporting an overall 6-0 record, and a Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division record of 2-0. According to the Miami Valley Tennis Coaches Association polls, Shawnee is ranked No. 5 in Division II.
The Arrows were scheduled to play next on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at home against SWBL Buckeye Division foe Carlisle. They are scheduled to visit Dixie on Thursday.
