Tanager tennis team opens season at Yankton quad

On Saturday, Aug. 19, the Tanager girls' tennis team met three very tough opponents, including RC Stevens and Watertown, in a quadrangular on the courts of the Summit Center sports complex in Yankton to open the 2006 season.

Second-year tennis coach Dan Hanson still has a young squad with two seniors and four juniors on the varsity team.

The complete roster includes: Seniors – Stephanie Cowman, Britney Holmberg, Sarah McCann, Lindsay Morecraft and Stephanie Taylor; Juniors – Liz Day, Dru Daniels, Amanda Granaas, Laura Jacobson, Alicia Hesla, and Gabby Richard; Sophomore – Shanon Skillman; Freshman – Sarah Axtell; Seventh grade – Claire Jones, Valerie Robinson, Chrissy Sorenson, and McKenzie Stone.

"Our team strengths include highly motivated individuals, hard workers, and great cooperative team players," Hanson said. "We should have a better season than last year's as all our varsity players are back."

Team scores were: Stevens – 9, Vermillion – 0; Yankton – 9; Vermillion – 0; and Watertown – 9, Vermillion – 0.

Singles vs. RC Stevens: Whitney Paluch (S) def. Linsay Morecraft 8-0; Fiorina Oddo (S) def. Dru Daniels 8-0; Lauren Schultz (S) def. Steph Cowman 8-1; Kaitlyn Wright (S) def. Alicia Hesla 8-2; Paluch (S) def. Amanda Granaas 8-0; Taylor Stuck (S) def. Gabby Richard 8-0.

Doubles: Oddo/W. Paluch def. Daniels/Morecraft 8-0; Shultz/Wright def. Cowman/Hesla 8-1; M. Paluch/ Stuck def. Granaas/Richard 8-0. 8-1.

Here's a look at the Yankton scores: Singles – Steph Rockne (Y) def. Morecraft 8-3; Bridget Henderson (Y) def. Daniels 8-4; Gabby Kuchena (Y) def. Cowman 8-1; Vanessa Rockne (Y) def. Hesla 8-1; Jaclyn Mathison (Y) def. Granaas 8-2; and Marie Holtzman (Y) def. Richard 8-0.

Doubles: Rockne/Rockne (Y) def. Daniels/Morecraft 8-4; Kachena/Henderson (Y) def. Cowman/Hesla 8-2; Matheson/Holtzman (Y) def. Granaas/Richard 8-0.

Finally, the team faced Watertown: Singles – Tegan Bakke (W) def. Morecraft 8-1; Lauren Saylor (W) def. Daniels 8-3; Shealyn Bakke (W) def. Cowman 8-1; Anna Jones (W) def. Hesla 8-1; Sara Saathoff (W) def. Granaas 8-4; and Carly Heideman (W) def. Richard 8-1.

Doubles: T. Bakke/Saylor def. Daniels/Morecraft 8-1; S Bakke/Jones def. Cowman/Hesla 8-0; Saathoff/Heideman def. Granaas/Richard 8-0.