×

Dragons nearly sweep MHS girls’ tennis team

No. 8 Johnston takes care of Bobcats, 10-1

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown junior Cassandre Lecompte makes a forehand return during her No. 1 singles match against Allie Christensen of Johnston during Tuesday’s dual meet at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Lecompte won the match, 6-4, 7-5.

Sometimes it’s just not the home team’s day. Especially in a conference like the CIML.

That was the case for the Marshalltown girls’ tennis team, who held a home meet for only the third time all season. It was the Bobcats’ first home meet in two weeks.

But it wasn’t enough to overcome the No. 8 Johnston Dragons (4-1) Tuesday afternoon at the MHS Tennis Complex. The Dragons won the meet 10-1, with the only victory for the Bobcats (1-7) coming from Cass Lecompte, the team’s No. 1.

Lecompte had to fight her way to victory against Allie Christensen of Johnston, taking the first set 6-4 and letting the second set go to a tiebreaker. Lecompte won the set 7-5 to take the victory in a thrilling match, but it was clear the match had fatigued her by the time doubles started.

In the other singles matches, Regan Smith lost to Dasha Svitashev 6-0, 6-1, Rebekah Downs lost 6-2, 6-0 to Jennifer Larson and Kaitlyn Tiernan lost to Betsy Heiser 6-0, 6-1. Brianna Hargrave lost 6-1, 6-0 to Reese Monson and Emily Diggins fell 6-0, 6-0 to Taylor Arbuckle.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown’s Regan Smith makes a return during singles play at Tuesday’s dual meet against Johnston. Smith was defeated by Dasha Svitashev, 6-0, 6-1.

Fatigue was a factor in Tuesday’s loss, coach John Fiscus said.

“It shows, the team’s just kind of tired,” Fiscus said. “We need to get them resting up and get them prepared to come out and do it again on Thursday.”

The Johnston domination continued in doubles. Hargrave and Chesni Uhde were beaten 6-0, 6-0 by Arbuckle and Callie Studer. Claire Bohan and Taylor Jones lost 6-1, 6-1 to Ariel Backford and Lauren Hendricksen, while Diggins and Grace Bethel fell 6-3, 6-0 to Kayla Jensen and Lauren Gano. Downs and Tiernan were defeated 6-1, 6-1 by Christensen and Monson.

In the final doubles match of the day, Lecompte and Smith started strong and held a 5-4 lead over Larson and Heiser in the first set. Errors, missed opportunities and strong play from the Johnston duo resulted in a 7-5 set win for the Dragons. In the second set, Larson and Heiser coasted to a 6-1 win.

Fiscus said the next two matches, against Ankeny and Mason City at home, will be a better chance for Marshalltown to get some victories.

“It’s great and I’m happy we got our next two matches at home, also,” Fiscus said. “They are matches against teams we’re more comparable to since our first few matches [at home] this year were against top-10 teams.”

The Bobcats host Ankeny Thursday at 4 p.m.

Johnston 10, Marshalltown 1

Singles

Cassandre Lecompte (MHS) def. Allie Christensen, 6-4, 7-5

Dasha Svitashev (JHN) def. Regan Smith, 6-0, 6-1

Jennifer Larson (JHN) def. Rebekah Downs, 6-2, 6-0

Betsy Heiser (JHN) def. Kaitlyn Tiernan, 6-0, 6-1

Reese Monson (JHN) def. Brianna Hargrave, 6-1, 6-0

Taylor Arbuckle (JHN) def. Emily Diggins, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

Larson and Heiser (JHN) def. Lecompte and Smith, 7-5, 6-1

Christensen and Monson (JHN) def. Downs and Tiernan, 6-1, 6-1

Arbuckle and Callie Studer (JHN) def. Hargrave and Chesni Uhde, 6-0, 6-0

Lauren Gano and Kayla Jensen (JHN) def. Diggins and Grace Bethel, 6-3, 6-0

Ariel Blackford and Lauren Hendricksen (JHN) def. Claire Bohan and Taylor Jones, 6-1, 6-1

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today