Polson girls’ squad brings home the hardware from the Class A state tennis championships
By Jim Blow
Valley Journal
The Polson girls’ tennis team brought home the hardware from a hard-fought state tennis tournament in Billings last week.
Battling through tough competition, inclement weather that forced the second day of play indoors, and some rough court conditions that included grass growing in cracks on the court, Polson’s girls’ squad finished off the season with a second-place finish at the Class A state tennis championships. Polson finished with 20 points behind a very talented Glendive team that earned the championship with 32 points.
Polson’s boys’ team also competed well, but finished out of the trophy hunt with three points.
Billings Central hosted the state tournament May 27-28, utilizing courts at two city parks and, on the final day, the indoor courts at Montana State University-Billings.
Polson’s girls were led by two fourth-place finishes by Jane Probst in singles, and Kayla and Kendyall Rochin in doubles.
Kayla and Kendyall Rochin finished their career as a sister doubles team with a strong finish at state. On Thursday they opened the tournament with two solid wins that included two tiebreakers. In the first round they beat the Billings Central team of Gabby Weber and Trenna Thelen 7-6 (12-7), 6-3, then beat Sydnee Madruga and Lairen Phinney of Corvallis 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4.
That sent the Rochin sisters into Friday’s semifinals, where they ran into some familiar opponents. Emily Paffhausen and Sarah Downey, Dillon’s number one doubles team, had beaten the Rochins twice during the regular season. They made it a third time, handing the Polson team a 6-2, 6-3 loss.
“I don’t think they played their best match, but kept it competitive before falling 6-2, 6-3,” Polson head coach Bob Hislop said.
But the Rochins bounced back in the consolation bracket with a very well-played 6-4, 6-4 win over the Eastern Division champions, Carly Selvig and Blaire Milne of Glendive, to move into the third/fourth-place match. The Rochins had a tough end to their tennis partnership when they lost 6-1, 6-1 to the red-hot team of Morgan McCann and Jolee Langraf of Havre.
“Kayla and Kendyall had an amazing two years together, losing only one match in conference in two years (last week’s divisional championship) and reaching all state status both years,” Hislop said.
Jane Probst opened the singles tournament with two strong wins on Thursday. Probst beat Jessie Robinson of Billings Central 6-3, 6-3 in the first round.
“That was a great win, considering that Robinson had a 24-2 match record on the season,” Hislop noted.
Probst then won a marathon match over Corvallis’ Tabitha Hooten 6-4, 6-3 in the second round. Both girls kept the ball in play and dug up their opponent’s attempts at winners.
“In her quarterfinal Jane had to adjust to the deliberate style of … Hooten. It took a lot of 25-to-40 shot rallies to get through but Jane did that in straight sets,” Hislop said.
In the semifinals on Friday, Probst lost a 6-4, 6-1 battle to Billings Central’s Taylor Steubs, who eventually lost a three-set championship match to finish second.
“Jane played some of the best tennis of her career but Steubs is amazingly steady and finally wore Jane down,” coach Hislop explained.
Probst came back in the consolation bracket and dispensed of Stephanie Huschka of Glendive 6-3, 7-5, before finishing her high school career in the match for third/fourth place. Probst succumbed to conference rival Jackie Mee of Libby 6-2, 6-0 to finish fourth.
“Jane finished the season 24-5 at number one singles, which is an amazing accomplishment,” Hislop said. “Jane had an amazing state tournament as I felt she would coming into the tournament.”
Polson’s other singles entry, Whitney Zimmerman went 1-2 at the state tournament. She lost her first round match to Steubs 6-2, 6-0, but bounced back with a consolation round win over Christina Mack of Havre 6-1, 6-0. She lost her second round consolation match to Hooten of Corvallis. After tying the match up 4-6, 6-4, Zimmerman had to default at the start of the third set due to a hamstring injury.
“It is always amazing to get a freshman to state, but to get her to state and then have her win a match in that convincing a fashion is very cool,” Hislop said.
The doubles team of Kelsie Howell and Mackenzie Clay went 1-2 at state, thanks in large part to some tough competition.
They started the tournament against Eastern Division champs Carly Selvig and Blaire Milne. After a rough first set against the tall Glendive team they settled in and played a very competitive second set before falling 6-1 6-3. They then won their first consolation match 6-4, 6-4 over Hamilton’s number one team of Stella Quinlan and Kelsey Della Silva. But Howell and Clay lost out in the next round to Lindsay Sebastian and Kyla Clancy of Billings Central 6-4, 6-4.
“They were a very solid number two team for us all year and represented themselves very well at state,” Hislop noted.
Polson loses a lot of talent and experience to graduation, but Hislop is looking forward to development of his young players.
“Kendyall (Rochin) will move to singles next year and the senior leadership of Jane (Probst), Kayla (Rochin), Kelsie (Howell) and Erika Nunlist will be sorely missed,” Hislop said. “The good news is that the Lady Pirates are very young and actually have a good players coming up out of the junior high to compete for varsity spots.”
GIRLS
Final team scores
Glendive 32, Polson 20, Livingston 18, Billings Central 17, Dillon 14, Havre 10, Libby 10, Corvallis 8, Hamilton 7, Columbia Falls 2, Lewistown 2.
Singles
First Round — Morgan Opp, Glendive, def. Tami Kolatschek, Columbia Falls, 6-0, 6-0; Sarah Harmsworth, Corvallis, def. Ellen Harmon, Lewistown, 7-5, 6-3; Mark Ricketts, Livingston, def. Kelsey Jura, Hamilton, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Jackie Mee, Libby, def. Stefanie Huschka, Glendive, 6-0, 6-1; Tabitha Hooten, Corvallis, def. Dylan Balanda, Livingston, 6-2, 6-1; Jane Probst, Polson, def. Jessie Robinson, Billings Central, 6-3, 6-3; Taylor Steubs, Billings Central, def. Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, 6-2, 6-0; Mary Conwell, Hamilton, def. Christina Mack, Havre, 6-2, 6-1.
Second Round — Morgan Opp, Glendive, def. Sarah Harmsworth, Corvallis, 6-0, 6-2; Jackie Mee, Libby, def. Mary Ricketts, Livingston, 6-1, 6-0; Jane Probst, Polson, def. Tabitha Hooten, Corvallis, 6-4, 6-3; Taylor Steubs, Billings Central, def. Mary Conwell, Hamilton, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Consolation First Round — Ellen Harmon, Lewistown, def. Tami Kolatschek, Columbia Falls, 6-2, 6-1; Stefanie Huschka, Glendive, def. Kelsey Jura, Hamilton, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2; Jessie Robinson, Billings Central, def. Dylan Balanda, Livingston, 6-3, 6-0; Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, def. Christina Mack, Havre, 6-1, 6-0.
Consolation Second Round — Ellen Harmon, Lewistown, def. Mary Ricketts, Livingston, 6-1, 6-1; Stefanie Huscka, Glendive, def. Sarah Harmsworth, Corvallis, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4; Mary Conwell, Hamilton, def. Jessie Robinson, Billings Central, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1; Tabitha Hooten, Corvallis, def. Whitney Zimmerman, Polson, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (forfeit).
Semifinals — Morgan Opp, Glendive, def. Jackie Mee, Libby, 6-4, 6-3; Taylor Steubs, Billings Central, def. Jane Probst, Polson, 6-4, 6-1.
Consolation quarterfinals — Stefanie Huschka, Glendive, def. Ellen Harmon, Lewistown, 7-5, 6-3; Mary Conwell, Hamilton, def. Tabitha Hooten, Corvallis, 6-2, 6-2.
Consolation semifinals — Jane Probst, Polson, def. Stefanie Huschka, Glendive, 6-3, 7-5; Jackie Mee, Libby, def. Mary Conwell, Hamilton, 6-3, 6-4
Fifth place — Mary Conwell, Hamilton , def. Stefanie Huschka, Glendive, 6-3, 6-2.
Third place — Jackie Mee, Libby, def. Jane Probst, Polson, 6-2, 6-0.
Championship — Morgan Opp, Glendive, def. Taylor Steubs, Billings Central, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
Doubles
First Round — Carly Selvig-Blair Milne, Glendive, def. Kelsie Howell-Mackenzie Clay, Polson, 6-1, 6-3; Mollie Morrow-Alex Ricketts, Livingston, def. Kelsey Delta Silva-Stella Quinlan, Hamilton, 6-1, 6-1; Morgan McCann-Jolee Landgraf, Havre, def. Kate Ferris-Katie Myllymaki, Dillon, 6-2, 7-5; Lindsay Sebastian-Kyla Clancy, Billings Central, def. Anna Valentine-Audra Poppen, Libby, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-2; Sydnee Madruga-Lairen Phinney, Corvallis, def. Hayley Donovan-Courtney Kinholt, Havre, 7-6, 3-6 6-4 (7-4); Kayla Rochin-Kendyall Rochin, Polson, def. Gabby Weber-Trenna Thelen, Billings Central, 7-6 (12-7), 6-3; Ashlee Burman-Katie Turner, Glendive, def. Lexi Bartkoski-Marissa Getts, Columbia Falls, 6-4, 6-0; Sarah Downey-Emily Pafhausen, Dillon, def. Shantel Nielsen-Amanda Monger, Lewistown, 6-0, 6-0.
Second Round — Mollie Morrow-Alex Ricketts, Livingston, def. Carly Selvig-Blaire Milne, Glendive, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; Morgan McCann-Jolee Landgraf, Havre, def. Lindsay Sebastian-Kyla Clancy, 6-0, 6-1; Kayla Rochin-Kendyall Rochin, Polson, def. Sydnee Madruga-Lairen Phinney, Corvallis, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 (7-4); Sarah Downey-Emily Paffhausen, Dillon, def. Ashlee Burman-Katie Turner, Glendive, 6-3, 6-3.
Consolation First Round — Kelsie Howell-Mackenzie Clay, Polson, def. Lindsay Sebastian-Kyla Clancy, Billings Central, 6-4, 6-4; Kate Ferris-Katie Myllymaki, Dillon, def. Carly Selvig-Blaire Milne, Glendive, 6-2, 6-3; Hayley Donovan-Courtney Kinholt, Havre, def. Gabby Weber-Trenna Thelen, Billings Central, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7); Lexi Bartkoski-Marissa Getts, Columbia Falls, def. Shante Nielsen-Amanda Monger, Lewistown, 6-4, 6-0.
Consolation Second Round — Lindsay Sebastian-Kyla Clancy, Billings Central, def. Kelsie Howell-Mackenzie Clay, Polson, 6-4, 6-4; Carly Selvig-Blaire Milne, Glendive, def. Kate Ferris-Katie Myllymaki, Dillon, 6-2, 6-1; Ashlee Burman-Katie Turner, Glendive, def. Hayley Donovan-Courtney Kinholt, Havre, 6-4, 6-3; Lexi Bartkoski-Marissa Getts, Columbia Falls, def. Sydnee Madruga-Lairen Phinney, Corvallis, 6-0, 6-4.
Semifinals — Mollie Morrow-Alex Ricketts, Livingston, def. Morgan McCann-Jolee Landgraf, Havre, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (14-12), 6-3; Sarah Downey-Emily Paffhausen, Dillon, def. Jayla Rochin-Kendyall Rochin, Polson, 6-2, 6-3.
Consolation quarterfinals — Carly Selvig-Blaire Milne, Glendive, def. Lindsay Sebastian-Kyla Clancy, Billings Central, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5; Ashlee Burman-Katie Turner, Glendive, def. Lexi Bartkoski-Marissa Getts, Columbia Falls, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).
Consolation semifinals — Jayla Rochin-Kendyall Rochin, Polson, def. Carly Selvig-Blaire Milne, Glendive, 6-4, 6-4; Morgan McCann-Jolee Landgraf, Havre, def. Ashlee Burman-Katie Turner, Glendive, 6-2, 7-5.
Fifth place — Ashlee Burman-Katie Turner, Glendive, def. Carly Selvig-Blaire Milne, Glendive, 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-6 (10-8).
Third place — Morgan McCann-Jolee Landgraf, Havre, def. Jayla Rochin-Kendyall Rochin, Polson, 6-1, 6-1.
Championship — Mollie Morrow-Alex Ricketts, Livingston, def. Sarah Downey-Emily Paffhausen, Dillon, 6-2, 6-3.