Republic’s team tennis season ended at the district quarterfinals in Joplin, with the Tigers falling 3-5 to the Eagles. Lucas Riffe, whose sophomore regular season concludes with a 21-3 record, will continue competing as an individual in the singles bracket at the state tournament in Springfield.
Riffe dropped his singles match to Joplin’s Sejong Kim, 1-6, 4-6. Both of his on-court losses this season came against Kim. His third loss came in a default when he had to drop out of the finals at the individual district tournament. Riffe and Evan Wilkinson won their doubles match 8-6. Nevan Kulp and Kaden Fisher also won at No. 3 doubles, 8-6, giving Republic two of its three victories in doubles play.
The singles results went in Joplin’s favor as they put the match away. Nathan Henry lost 2-6, 1-6 at No. 2, Raymond DeVries fell 3-6, 3-6 at No. 3, and Kulp dropped his match 0-6, 1-6 at No. 4. Robert Linn provided the lone singles win, beating his Joplin opponent 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6. Fisher’s match at No. 5 was not completed — he led 6-4, 4-4 when the overall result was decided.
Republic finished the team season 8-7.
Singles
S1 — Lucas Riffe, L, 1-6, 4-6
S2 — Nathan Henry, L, 2-6, 1-6
S3 — Raymond DeVries, L, 3-6, 3-6
S4 — Nevan Kulp, L, 0-6, 1-6
S5 — Kaden Fisher, unfinished (led 6-4, 4-4)
S6 — Robert Linn, W, 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
D1 — Nathan Henry/Raymond DeVries, L, 1-8
D2 — Lucas Riffe/Evan Wilkinson, W, 8-6
D3 — Nevan Kulp/Kaden Fisher, W, 8-6
Lucas Riffe, Evan Wilkinson, Nathan Henry, Raymond DeVries, Nevan Kulp, Kaden Fisher, Robert Linn, Dan Vales
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