The Trenton Lady Bulldogs, coming off a 5-0 shutout of Lafayette on Monday night, took momentum to Maryville on Tuesday, for a Class 1, District 16 semifinal showdown with the Lady Spoofhounds at Northwest Missouri State University.
Although the THS ‘netters’ showed moxie and determination, the Lady Bulldogs managed only two victories against the ‘Hounds, succumbing to the eventual district champions by a final score of 5-2. Of note in Trenton’s efforts were an in-progress lead in the #6 singles match, seven combined points for #2 singles player Elle Neal in a straight-set defeat, and despite a straight-set defeat at #3 singles, Trenton’s Kendall Crowley taking her opponent to a second-set tiebreaker after a lopsided loss in the first set.
Trenton’s victories against Maryville both came from the racket of #1 singles and doubles player Emma Gilham, who defeated Morgan Goodridge in singles play, 7-6 (7-3 tiebreak), 6-4, and teamed with Lexi Gott for a #1 doubles win over Goodridge and Addison Hall.
At #2 singles, Trenton’s Elle Neal lost to Maryville’s Hall 6-4, 6-3, with Crowley losing in #3 singles action to Emma Webb-Kirkpatrick 6-1, 7-6 (7-4 tiebreak).  The #4 singles match between Latorrie Johnson of the Lady Bulldogs and Kamryn Gastler of the Lady Spoofhounds was never completed. At #5 singles, Trenton’s Lexi Gott earned the opening set victory by a 6-3 final, before Chiara Ghera of Maryville came roaring back to take the middle set 6-4, and the deciding set 6-1. Morgan Dolan, at #6 singles, had Cayren Barnett of Maryville beaten after the first set, taking a 7-2 tiebreak decision after the girls played to a 6-6 draw.
Maryville’s #2 and #3 doubles teams had good success, with Webb-Kirkpatrick teaming with Ghera for an 8-3 win (against Neal and Johnson), while Gastler and Groumoutis, at #3 doubles, defeated Crowley and Dolan, 8-5.
Maryville, on Wednesday afternoon, traveled to Savannah to play the rival Savages in the District 16 championship match, upsetting the top-seed, 5-3. Maryville will play Marshall in the Class 1 state sectionals, after the Lady Owls routed visiting Chillicothe in the District 15 title match, 5-0. On Tuesday, Marshall shutout Moberly 5-0 and Chillicothe took down Kirksville in the semifinals, 5-0.
