Ozark won two tie-breakers and a third close match (9-7) to edge Republic for the Central Ozark Conference championship in the regular-season finale for both schools. For Republic, it was the first loss of the year, ending the Lady Tigers’ hope of becoming the first tennis team in school history to finish the regular season unbeaten.
Coach Dan Vales says it was an unusual night with some unexpected results up and down the lineup.
“It was kind of weird. Some of the line spots, we have won all year almost, and we didn’t win. Then we won some spots we haven’t done as much (previously),” Vales says.
Republic started the night by winning two of three doubles matches, but lost unexpectedly in the #1 doubles match, when Kaitlyn Snyder and Jordyn Gianopulos lost a tie-breaker that could have put Republic firmly in control.
“One doubles had been rock solid for us all year,” Vales says. “They hadn’t lost yet, and they lost a tough match in a tie-breaker, so (that) was an upset. If we’d gone up 3-0, that would have really set the tone.”
Snyder swept through her singles match with a quick win, and Katie Stiles won her match to pull Republic within a win of the title. But Hannah Morgan, Carly McAtee, and Isabella Freeman lost their matches, leaving only Gianopulos and Abby Taylor on the court with the teams tied at four wins apiece. Gianopulos jumped ahead, but Taylor, who placed third at the Nixa Tournament last week, played nearly flawless tennis from that point on, forcing a tiebreaker and winning it, 7-3, to take the match 9-8.
“I know Jordyn…feels bad, but was a really good player, and she battled hard to get in that spot to be in a tie-breaker with her,” Vales says. “We really didn’t lose the match there. We lost…earlier.”
Vales says it will be difficult, but his team will have to regroup heading into districts soon.
“It’s really tough, but we have more to play for,” he says. “We have a realistic opportunity to win districts. We’ve just got to be ready to battle and if we can, take districts.”
