Ark Valley News - Hornet tennis places fourth at Topeka

Dominic Phillips returns a ground stroke against Wichita Northwest April 20. Phillips placed seventh.

Hornet tennis places fourth at Topeka
Last Updated: April 25, 2019

With the season winding down, the Valley Center High School tennis team seems to get busier each week. Most recently, the Hornets were the highest-finishing Class 5A school at the Topeka Invitational, which is predominantly 6A schools.

Fourth at Topeka — The Hornets were fourth April 22 at Topeka. Manhattan won with 46 points, followed by Garden City with 38, Wichita East 35, Valley Center 33, Maize 29, Derby 25, Lawrence Free State 24, Junction City 23, Topeka 23, Topeka B 18, Gardner-Edgerton and Topeka West each had nine points.

Valley's doubles teams finished first and fourth.

At No. 1 doubles, Hayden Brauer and Colby Swift dropped only two games to finish first. They defeated Joshi/Saeed (WE) 8-0, Bott/Shove (MZ) 8-0, Richards/Rothfuss (JC) 8-0, Keller/Darter (GC) 8-0 and Easton/Ugrin (MAN) 8-2.

At No. 2 doubles, Donnie Rowson and Brayden Ruble were fourth. They defeated Riley/Chappel (LFS) 8-6 and Bishop/Armstrong (GE) 8-0, lost 8-3 to Poole/Craft (MAN) and 8-7 (5) to James/Garay (TOPB), then defeated Noel/Cathcart (DER) 8-6.

Both of Valley's singles players finished seventh.

At No. 1 singles, Alejandro Torrelly lost 8-4 to Bodie Carter (MZ) and 8-7 (10) to Huy Nguyen (GC), then defeated Kody Westerhaus (JC) 8-6, Trent Ediger (LFS) 5-0 retired and Max Clark (GE) 8-2.

At No. 2 singles, Logan Snyder defeated Andrew Wise (GE) 8-3, lost 8-6 to Noah Hanson (MZ) and 8-4 to Robert Zhang (MAN) 4-8, then defeated Ronnie Coleman (TW) 8-1 and Aaron Larson (DER) 8-6.

VC tourney — With a couple of key players unavailable due to other commitments, the Hornets put a different look on the court April 20 in the Dean Schulz Invitational in Valley Center. In the team standings, Valley Center Purple was fourth and Valley Center Gold seventh.

Conway Springs won with 25 points, followed by Newton with 21, Wichita Northwest 20, Valley Center Purple 19, Maize 14, McPherson 7, Valley Center Gold 6 and Emporia 4.

"Overall, we found out some things to work on and places to improve," coach Dean Schulz said. "It's mostly our mental toughness that keeps some of the players from winning close matches."

For Valley Center Purple, Brauer was first at No. 1 singles. He defeated Noah Hanson (MZ) 8-0, Jonah Schloneger (NEW) 8-0, Trent Landenberger (WNW) 8-2 and Luke Bellar (CS) 8-0.

At No. 2 singles, Snyder was fourth. He defeated Elias Antonio (EMP) 8-2 and Zachary Wash (McP) 8-2, then lost 8-7 (3) to Colby Osner (CS) and 8-0 to Braden Chavez (MZ).

At No. 1 doubles, Josiah Farney and Elijah Thornton were fifth. They defeated Hines/Diaz (EMP) 8-2 and Bott/Shove (MZ) 8-6, lost 8-2 to Winter/Koester (CS) and defeated Johnson/Hardgrave (McP) 8-5.

At No. 2 doubles, Josh Dessenberger and Gavin McGee were fourth. They defeated Guion/Davis (EMP) 8-6 and Wurm/Everhart (McP) 8-1, then lost 8-3 to Doerksen/Newton (WNW) and 8-6 to Mercer/Ebenkamp.

For Valley Center Gold at No. 1 singles, Torrelly was fourth. He defeated Isiah Pardo (EMP) 8-0 and Jaden Fox (McP) 8-0, but lost 8-1 to Luke Bellar (CS) and 8-3 to Trent Landerberger (WNW).

At No. 2 singles, Dominic Phillips was seventh. He lost 8-3 to Zach Kofoed (NEW), 8-7 (7) to Braden Chavez (MZ), and 8-3 to Frank Reyes (WNW) before defeating Elias Antonio (EMP) 8-0.

At No. 1 doubles, Sam Benz and Jared Robertson were eighth. They lost 8-2 to Johnson/Hardgrave (McP), 8-3 to Thompson/Bontrager (NEW), 8-4 to Flippin/Nickel (WNW) and 8-7 (5) to Hines/Diaz (EMP).

At No. 2 doubles, Jakob Byrne and Aydin Lewis were seventh. They lost 8-5 to both Musser/Kirner (NEW) and Erickson/Sheldon (MZ), lost 8-3 to Mercer/Ebenkamp (CS) and defeated Wurm/Everhart (McP) 8-1.

"Josiah and Elijah went 2-1 in pool play but ended up third in their pool because of percentage of games won over games played," Schulz said. "Dominic struggled at No. 2 singles, and Aydin and Jakob were playing together for the first time."

Second at South — Valley Center traveled to Salina South on April 18 and finished second in what turned out to be a rain-shortened tournament.

Manhattan won with 59.5 points. Then came Valley Center with 42.5, Salina Central 42, Smoky Valley 39, Salina South 33.5, Andover 26.5, Hays 20.5 and Abilene 16.5.

At No. 1 singles, Torrelly went 2-1. He defeated Cade Schneider (SV) 8-0, lost 8-6 to Austin Beatty (SC) and defeated Griffin Peterson (SS) 8-1.

Snyder also went 2-1 at No. 2 singles. He lost 8-4 to Nolan Foley (SC), then defeated Jaylen West (AB) 8-2 and Drew Munson (AND) 8-3.

At No. 1 doubles, Brauer and Swift were 3-0. They defeated Horan/Prater (AB) 8-0, Faunce/Talbott (SS) 8-1 and Brumbaugh/Rauchholz (SV) 8-2.

At No. 2 doubles, Rowson and Ruble went 1-2. They lost 8-6 to Poole/Craft (MAN), defeated Hoar/King (HAYS) 8-1 and lost 8-6 to Kohler/Schiffner (AB)

Fourth at Buhler — Valley Center finished fourth in the team standings April 16 at Buhler. The host Crusaders won easily with 60 points. They were followed by Sterling with 46 points, Andover Central 42, Valley Center 34, McPherson 22, Dodge City 10 and Liberal 6.

At No. 1 singles, Snyder was 10th. He lost 8-3 to Gavin Reeves (AC), defeated Jack Maxwell (LIB) 8-3 and Josh Dessenberger (VC) 8-7 (3) but lost 8-5 to Jackson Schrader (McP).

At No. 2 singles, Dessenberger was 11th. He lost 8-3 to Bridger Warrington (AC), had a bye, lost to Logan Snyder VC 8-7 (3), and won by forfeit over Lakin Scheck (DC).

Brauer and Swift won at No. 1 doubles. They opened with a bye because of their top seed, defeated Hardgrave/Johnson (McP) 8-0, defeated Riffel/Birzer (ST) 8-2 and defeated Wilson/Flores (AC) 8-1

At No. 2 doubles, Rowson and Ruble were fifth. They defeated Armedariz/Sanchez (LIB) 8-1, lost 8-7 (5) to Riffel/Birzer (ST), then defeated Hardgrave/Johnson (McP) 8-5 and Unkall/Ramirez (DC) 8-7 (5).

"We did not play well at singles, losing to league and regional opponents. We need to improve our consistency, patience, and focus on the ball." Schulz said. "Doubles played well. Hayden and Colby were not challenged, and Donnie and Brayden found things that they can work on to improve."

JV wins at Wellington — A group of JV players with some varsity experience easily won the Wellington Quad April 22.

"My expectations were high going into this meet and the players didn't disappoint," said coach Matt Klusener. "I can't say it wasn't without some struggle and pressure situations for most of our players, but in the end we won the tournament with an overwhelming score."

Valley Center recorded 27 points, followed by El Dorado with 13, Wellington 12 and Conway Springs 8.

Three of the Hornets' entrants won their division.

At No. 1 doubles, Elijah Thornton and Josiah Farney defeated Barton/Greenlee (WEL) 8-2, D. Paul/Boyles (CS) 8-1 and King/Ash (ElD) 8-2.

At No. 2 singles, Sam Benz defeated Norris (WEL) 8-6, Zoglman (CS) 8-1 and Ferley (ElD) 8-7 (10-8).

At No. 2 doubles, Dominic Phillips and Jared Roberts defeated Groom/Young (WEL) 8-4, J. Paul/Hall (CS) 8-0 and Meese/Burnet (ElD) 8-2.

At No. 1 singles, Josh Dessenberger finished third in a tiebreak. He defeated Hamel (WEL) 8-6, lost 8-7 (7-2) to Oswald (CS) and defeated McKibban (ElD) 8-7 (7-4).

Purple wins novice — At the Valley Center novice tournament April 20, Valley Center Purple was first and Valley Center Gold sixth.

With 27 team points, VC Purple edged Hesston with 26, Newton with 24 and Maize with 20. Then came Conway springs with 16, VC Gold 11 and Derby 8.

Valley Center Purple had two division winners.

At No. 1 singles, Marshall Fiebich was fourth. He lost 6-5 (3) to Latta (HES), defeated Sprocket (DER) 6-0 and lost 6-3 to Oswald (CS).

At No. 2 singles, Kyler Palmer was first. He defeated Spencer (VCG) 6-0, Jackson (NEW) 6-3, Shirley (HES) 6-3 and Zoglman (CS) 6-2.

At No. 1 doubles, Lejer McDaniel and Braden Maltz were third. They lost 6-1 to Gamble/Leinback (HES), defeated Keene/Busey (DER) 6-1 and lost 6-4 to Bergman/Kennell (NEW).

At No. 2 doubles, Matthew Allbritten and Robbie Clausel were first. They defeated Krehbiel/Latta (HES) 6-4, Pankey/Edwards (DER) 6-1 and Siliman/Dougan (MZ) 6-1.

For Valley Center Gold at No. 1 singles, Waddie Sanford lost 6-0 to Molina (NEW), 6-1 to Oswald (CS), and 6-2 to Headding (MZ), then finished seventh by forfeit.

At No. 2 singles, Jesse Spencer was fifth. He lost 6-0 to Palmer (VCP), 6-3 to Zoglman (CS), 6-0 to Jackson (NEW) and 6-1 to Shirley (HES).

At No. 1 doubles, Grady Badders and Sheridan Peterson defeated Bergman/Kennell (NEW) 6-4, lost 6-4 to Ohl/Boyles (CS), then finished seventh by default.

At No. 2 doubles, Aaron Wiebe and Gunner Pulliam were fourth. They defeated Graf/Pradana (NEW) 6-5 (3) and Hall/Pauly (CS) 6-5 (5), then lost 6-3 to Silliman/Dougan (MZ) and 6-2 to Krehbiel/Latta (HES).

"As a coach, I was very pleased with the level of competitiveness that was shown by each of my players on both the Purple and Gold teams," Klusener said. "With the proper effort and continued determination, this freshman class will continue to get better and make their stamp on Valley Center tennis in the years to come."