Pendrak qualifies for state; Tigers finish third

Nevada's Lisa Pendrak qualified for the state tennis tournament by finishing second at the district tournament Saturday. Pendrak also set a school record for singles wins in a season with 24.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

With three wins and a second-place finish at the district tournament in Monett over the weekend, Nevada junior tennis player Lisa Pendrak accomplished two firsts.

Not only did Pendrak qualify for state as an individual for the first time, she also became the first tennis player in Nevada's school history to win 24 singles matches in one season.

As a team Nevada finished tied for third out of 10 schools, as the Lady Tigers scored 17 1/2 points to tie with Greenwood High School out of Springfield.

The tournament began Friday with the first two rounds, then concluded Saturday with the semifinal and championship rounds.

Only Pendrak made it to the second day, beating Megan Pirtle of Webb City in the first round, then Brooke Jessee from Thomas Jefferson High School in the second.

Pendrak made quick work of her first two opponents, defeating Pirtle 6-0, 6-0 and disposing of Jessee 6-3, 6-0.

That put the tournament's third seed on a crash course with the second seed, Krista Tolar of Bolivar with a state qualifying berth on the line.

Pendrak went on to defeat Tolar 6-2, 6-4, in the process advancing to the district singles championship match against familiar nemesis Felicia Owen, also of Thomas Jefferson.

Owen and Pendrak had played each other throughout the season in both dual matches and tournament play with Owen winning each time.

Saturday's match was no different, with Owen winning 6-2, 6-1.

For Owen, it was the fourth consecutive district title, while Pendrak was able to qualify for state individually for the first time in her career.

In other district action, freshman Molly Ferree played a courageous first match, winning 7-5 and 6-4 in singles play over Carrie Spry of Carthage. Ferree was then beaten in the quarterfinal round by Lindsey Hamman of Bolivar.

The senior doubles team of Jessica Ferree and Meredith Hoberock had the unfortunate task of taking on the top-seeded doubles team in the district for their first-round match.

Ferree and Hoberock fell to Janelle Quesenberry and Jaclyn Daun of Republic, 6-4, 6-1.

The other doubles team almost made it to the second day of competition. Emily Teepe and Lauren Compton won their opening match over Mary Catherine and Sarah Stansbury of Lamar, 6-3, 6-1. Teepe and Compton then jumped out to a big lead over Christen Means and Claire Clothiaux of Greenwood winning the first set 6-0. In the second set Teepe and Compton had a chance to close out the match but lost 7-5. That took the wind out of the two Tigers' sails as they lost the decisive third set 6-0.

Bolivar won the team title with 33 1/2 points, and Thomas Jefferson was second with 24 points.

Notes: Pendrak's win over Jessee gave her 23 singles wins this season, a new school record. Pendrak then won her 24th and still has the state tournament to try and add to her total ... the old record was held by Erin Campbell and was set in 1996 ... Pendrak will take a couple days off then start preparing for the state tournament in Springfield. The tournament begins Oct. 22.