The top-seeded Chillicothe Lady Hornets beat Cameron 5-0, while the #2 seed took care of Kirksville 5-1, in girls team tennis semifinal action on Monday afternoon. The result will send Trenton’s team to Chillicothe this (Tuesday) afternoon at 4 o’clock, battling Chillicothe for the district team championship.
In Trenton’s win over Kirksville, the Lady Bulldogs controlled singles play, with district champion Lexi Gott rolling to a 6-2, 6-love victory over Gracie Riemenscheider, while Mallory Sole downed Anna Eitel 6-love, 6-3, and Alaina Overton shutout Syr Slaughter 6-love, 6-love. A match between Maren Elmore of Kirksville and Morgan Dolan of Trenton had Dolan trailing 6-2 after the first set, but that match never finished, as Trenton reached the five win plateau to end the competition before its completion.
In doubles, Trenton’s Gott and Dolan defeated Riemenscheider and Elmore 8-5, while the Bulldog team of Sole and Overton doubled up Eitel and Slaughter 8-4. Kirksville’s only victory of the night came at #3 doubles, with Madisynn Crawford and Brynn Williams teaming for an 8-4 win over Trenton’s duo of Emilee Lovell and Lydia Leininger.
Trenton, in the district final at Chillicothe, will try for the third time this season to knock off the Hornets. Chillicothe beat Trenton in a hotly-contested match on the 7th of September by a final of 7-2, with two head-to-head battles going to overtime, both sliding the Hornets direction. In a rematch just over three weeks later, on September 24th, Chillicothe won on Trenton’s court, this time by a 5-4 final score.
Chillicothe, in the district semifinals against Cameron, picked up singles wins from Delaney May (6-1, 6-love) and Leah Lourenco (6-1, 6-love over Joy Collins). In doubles, May combined with Megan Sisson for an 8-2 win, Cami Carpenter and Leah Lourenco won 8-1, while Rylee Washburn teamed with Olivia Anderson for an 8-3 triumph.
Tuesday’s winner earns the District 15 championship, and a spot in the Missouri Class 1 girls tennis state playoffs, in a four-team bracket to be hosted by the District 13 champion on Monday, October 12th. Unbeaten Odessa is the heavy favorite to win District 13, with Lincoln Prep holding the top seed in District 14, and Maryville in District 16. The winners of Districts 14, and 16 will make up the field, with the surviving team advancing the state semifinals in Springfield on Friday, October 23rd. In the sectional round, the District 13 and 14 winners will meet, along with the District 15 and 16 champions.
