Republic’s girls tennis team played 55 matches against Central Ozark Conference West opponents this season and won all 55.
The Lady Tigers finished their domination Wednesday at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, beating Webb City 5-0 and Willard 5-0 to win their second straight COC West title. They had beaten Joplin, Willard, Webb City, Carthage and Neosho 9-0 in regular-season duals. No Republic team had done that before.
None of Republic’s six varsity players lost a match Wednesday. Claire Norris and Abigail Bremer, Elaina Antonuk and Marlee Vasquez, and Aubree Tinsley and Leighton Riffe teamed up in doubles.
“We haven’t lost a match in our conference all year, so it was a big day,” Bremer said.
The two sweeps Wednesday give the Lady Tigers 10 this season, one more than the program record of nine set in 2020. Seven came in 9-0 regular-season duals and one in a 5-0 win over Ozark at the Kickapoo tournament on Aug. 28.
“There are still good players out here and you really have to play your best tennis no matter what, no matter if you think you’ve got it in the bag or not,” Vasquez said.
The Lady Tigers are 15-1 and have won 13 straight since a 5-3 loss to Kickapoo on Aug. 28, the first day of the season. Their 13-1 regular season was the program’s best record in dual play in at least 17 years.
Republic plays in the Class 3 District 5 individual tournament Friday at Kickapoo. The Class 3 District 5 team tournament begins Monday, and Republic will host its first-round match as the higher seed.
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