Nevada High School girls tennis team faces tough loss to Carl Junction

The Nevada High School Girls Tennis team faced a challenging match at home on Wednesday, Sept. 20, as they went up against Carl Junction. Despite their best efforts, the Tigers experienced a tough loss with a final score of 0-9.

The Varsity Singles matches saw some intense competition, but Nevada couldn't secure a victory in any of the individual contests. Hennessy Brown, a senior with a 9-6 record, faced off against junior Naiyah Wurdeman, ultimately losing with a score of 2-8. Senior Preslee Bower (3-4) struggled against senior Jenna Besperat and ended up with a score of 0-8. Junior Mia Fulton (4-11) played against senior Isabel Read, but the match resulted in a 1-8 loss for Nevada. Sophomore Braelyn Harth (1-8) couldn't secure a win against senior Emily Rice, resulting in a score of 0-8. Senior Lailee Chadd (1-7) played against sophomore Brooklin Leggett and experienced a 0-8 loss. Sophomore Molly Russell (0-7) faced off against sophomore Brooke Jasperson but couldn't secure a win, ending with a score of 0-8.

In the Varsity Doubles matches, Nevada's Hennessy Brown and Preslee Bower (5-6) battled against Naiyah Wurdeman and Jenna Besperat but ultimately faced an 0-8 loss. The duo of Mia Fulton and Lailee Chadd (0-1) couldn't secure a victory against Isabel Read and Brooklin Leggett, resulting in another 0-8 loss. The pair of Braelyn Harth and Molly Russell (0-7) faced off against Emily Rice and Brooke Jasperson but couldn't turn the tide, ending with a score of 0-8.

Coach Tom Rea commented on the match, highlighting the challenges the team has faced in recent matches. He noted that this was the fourth consecutive match or tournament where the Tigers were missing one of their six varsity starters. While Preslee Bower returned from injury, Allie McCaffree, the #4 starter, was unable to play due to illness. Despite the tough competition, Coach Rea commended the well-coached Carl Junction team.

After the match, the team celebrated Senior Night, recognizing the three graduating seniors: Preslee Bower, Hennessy Brown, and Lailee Chadd. It was a poignant moment to honor their dedication and contributions to the team.

Looking ahead, the Tigers have a make-up match against Lamar scheduled for today at 3 p.m. at Nevada High School. The original match against Lamar was canceled due to rain.