Thresher tennis starts out conference season with a sweep of Avila
Both the men's and women's tennis teams swept Avila 7-0 to start out a long conference season.
The men’s and women’s tennis team started the conference season off with a KCAC win over Avila this past Saturday, March 8th, at the Ward Tennis Center.
The Avila men only had five athletes, giving the Threshers some wiggle room in the lineup to move things around.
On the men’s side, the Threshers took the double point after the #1 team of Elias Harder and Billy Haoda won 6-0, the #2 team consisting of Josh Leinbach and Petr Kollar won 6-0, and the #3 team of Amos Harder and Jordan Twenter took a forfeit win due to the Eagles only having 5 available men's players.
The men won in convincing fashion in singles. Zaidh Zihar played #1 singles and won 6-0, 6-1, Jonah Bergeron played #2 singles and swept his opponent 6-0, 6-0, Sawatzky played #3 singles and dominated 6-2, 6-0, James Menard played #4 singles and rolled over his opponent 6-0, 6-0, and Twenter played #5 singles and won 6-0, 6-0, while A. Harder received a forfeit win at #6 singles.
“It was a fantastic team victory, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to start conference play with a strong win alongside my brothers,” said senior Leinbach from Hesston. “Petr and I came out strong and felt good to get a 6-0 victory in our match. Everyone on the team brought great energy and fought hard, which made a big difference. It was a true team effort, and I’m proud of how we competed against Avila.”
On the women’s side, the Threshers took the doubles point with a win at #1 doubles consisting of Daniela Casique and Daniela Herrera, 6-0. The #2 doubles team consisting of Patty Huerta and Grace Dawes won 6-0, and the #3 doubles team of Kate Rowland and Charis Yager won 6-0 as well.
The women also dominated in singles. Casique played #1 singles and won 6-1, 6-0, Dawes played #2 singles and finished 6-1, 6-1, and Jenna Mahoney played #3 singles and dominated her opponent 6-0, 6-0. #4 singles was played by Huerta who won 6-0, 6-2, Rowland played #5 singles and won 6-0, 6-1, and Camila Lopez played #6 singles and rolled over Avila 6-0, 6-0.
“It felt so good to start conference off so strong and to be able to get a win at five singles,” said sophomore Rowland from Sterling. “It was so encouraging to see all my teammates performing and supporting each other well and loved being able to win our first conference match as a team.”
Head coach Gabe Johnson had this to say about the first conference win of the season:
“The Avila matches were a great way to cap off a busy week,” said Johnson. “We played a lot of good matches down in Texas, traveled back, quick turnaround with Avila at home to open the conference and I thought both teams showed a lot of poise and maturity being able to show up Saturday ready to play.
On the men's side, it was an opportunity for us to get some of our guys in that match, took care of business in the doubles. Billy (Haoda) and Elias (Harder) at one doubles, Petr (Kollár) and Josh (Leinbach) at two doubles, came out and really set the tone for the team and the energy was great. Obviously, Elias and Josh, two guys who've been seniors and been an integral part of this team and it's pushed to being one of the top teams in the conference, in the country so a great day to celebrate them and have them play at a high-level. Same with Jordan Twenter getting in at five singles and setting the tone as well coming out and dominating his singles match. He's been playing some of the best tennis that he's played in his career here and then you know taking care of business everywhere else throughout the lineup so really happy for the guys and proud of the way they came out and focused and competed and took care of business.
Likewise on the women's side, showed up, competed really well. I think we were okay with them being a strong team and pushing us a little bit. They picked up a win earlier in the day and came in with some confidence and I thought our girls showed up and competed well from the get-go, settled into our match as well adjusted the game plan where they needed to and ultimately came out with another 7-0 win.”
The Threshers will be back in action this Tuesday, March 11th, at 3:00 p.m. as they play Southwestern at Ward Tennis Center for their second conference match of the season.