Republic’s tennis team earned a second-place finish at its home invitational Friday, posting wins over Springfield Catholic and Forsyth before falling to tournament champion Bolivar.
##### Republic 7, Springfield Catholic 0
The Tigers opened with a convincing 7-0 victory over a talented Springfield Catholic squad. Republic set the tone early with three decisive doubles wins before continuing their strong play in singles competition.
“Very solid performance against a talented Catholic team,” said coach David Smashey. “Three quick and decisive doubles wins really set the tone.”
The No. 1 doubles team of Lucas Riffe and Gavin Collyott won 8-2, while Nathan Henry and Cooper Choate took No. 2 doubles 8-4. Andrew McCord and Nico Lugli completed the doubles sweep with an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles.
In singles play, Riffe won his match 8-3, and Collyott captured an 8-4 victory. Henry’s match was retired with him trailing 2-7, while two other singles matches went unfinished. Lugli secured a hard-fought 9-7 win at No. 6 singles to complete the scoring for Republic.
##### Republic 5, Forsyth 2
Republic followed with a 5-2 victory over Forsyth. The Tigers won two of three doubles matches, with Riffe and Collyott taking No. 1 doubles 8-2, and Henry and Choate earning a comeback win at No. 2 doubles, 8-6. McCord and Lugli fell in No. 3 doubles, 6-8.
Riffe earned an 8-3 singles victory, while Collyott pitched a shutout at No. 2 singles, 8-0. McCord lost a close battle at No. 4 singles, 7-9, and Lugli secured an 8-6 win at No. 6 singles. Two singles matches went unfinished.
“A tough comeback win at two doubles was key,” Smashey said. “Collyott at two singles played a dominant match, not losing a game.
“Forsyth is always dangerous because they’re athletic and are so competitive. Playing them is great, because while they’re doing everything they can to beat you, they have a great tradition of sportsmanship.”
##### Bolivar 7, Republic 2
The Tigers fell to Bolivar 7-2 in their final match of the day. Republic’s victories came at No. 1 doubles, where Riffe and Collyott won 8-4, and at No. 1 singles, where Riffe outlasted Cy Douglas 9-7 in a battle of top players.
“Bolivar is easily the best team we’ve played,” Smashey said. “They are talented, well-coached, and deep.”
Smashey was especially impressed with his top doubles team’s performance against Bolivar. “Riffe and Collyott at one doubles were down 3-1 early and then went on to win seven of the next eight games,” he said. “That’s the best extended stretch of tennis I’ve seen in a long time. The power and accuracy of their service returns completely turned the match around.”
And Smashey said the top singles match featured a face-off between two of the best players in the area. “In singles, Lucas Riffe and Bolivar’s senior No. 1 player battled from the first point to the last,” Smashey said. “(Cy) Douglas has been one of the best players in southwest Missouri for the past three years. Lucas just made huge shots on the biggest points of the match to narrowly win 9-7. That’s the ‘statement’ win that I so hoped he could get in his first high school season.”
Bolivar, still unbeaten at 11-0, claimed the tournament title, with Republic finishing second, Catholic third, and Forsyth fourth.
“Overall we had a great day and I feel really positive about the direction we’re headed as a team,” Smashey said.
