Tigers play well in defeat

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

NEVADA -- The Nevada Tigers didn't play poorly.

Webb City just played a little better.

The visiting Webb City Cardinals defeated the host Tigers 8-1 in girls tennis action on a chilly Thursday.

Nevada Coach Samantha Short said her team played well in defeat.

"Webb City is a tough team," Short said. "Almost all of them are seniors. You can tell they have a lot of experience. And some of our girls just don't have that kind of experience yet. I thought it would be a little closer, but some of the matches just didn't go our way. But I'm not unhappy with how we played. A lot of the matches were close. My girls didn't play bad."

Nevada's lone win came at number-one doubles, where senior Leah Creasy and junior Regan Kimbrough got past Webb City's Maranda Ann Miller and Macy Layne 8-6.

"Regan and Leah came around and were able to get the win," Short said. "It was a good win."

At number-two doubles, Webb City's Kirsten Robertson and Elizabeth Tappana topped Jessica DeCocq and Alexa Cubbage 8-4.

Webb City's Emily Graskemper and Darshi Edirisooriya knocked off Brandi Perrin and Lauren Phillips 8-3 in the number-three doubles match.

Next, Webb City swept all six singles matches, but several were close.

Miller, just a sophomore, defeated Creasy 8-0 at number-one singles.

Robertson edged Kimbrough 9-7 in the number-two singles match. Kimbrough led early in the match, but Robertson came back late.

At number three, Layne won a tie-breaker 7-2 after an eight-all tie over Cubbage. Cubbage led 7-5 before Layne rallied late.

A senior, Graskemper defeated DeCocq 8-1. DeCocq is just a sophomore.

Tappana defeated Perrin 8-3 at number-five singles and Edirisooriya topped Phillips 8-3 in the number-six singles match.

Notes: The Tigers (4-3) head to the Monett Tournament today.

The Tigers competed at the Warrensburg Doubles Tournament last Friday.

Nevada finished sixth in the team standings. Creasy and Kimbrough finished sixth in their bracket, while Cubbage and DeCocq placed fourth. Perrin and Phillips were sixth in their division.