The Great Bend High School girls’ tennis team swept its own invitational on Saturday at Veterans Park.
The Lady Panthers were led by their No. 1 doubles team, which consists of Brianna Schartz and Jami McVay. The duo lost one game in five matches.
“The team played really well,” GBHS head coach Shannon Schartz said. “I think it was probably their best tennis so far this year. Our No. 1 doubles team dropped just one game all day. Jami McVay was serving very well. They both were.”
Great Bend swept its rounds against Western Athletic Conference opponents, namely Liberal, Garden City and Dodge City.
“We played a lot closer to our potential,” Shannon Schartz said. “Now we’ve met everyone from the WAC. We’ve faced Hays and Dodge a couple times. We’ve lost no WAC matches so far.”
Morgan Francis swept all six of her matches at No. 1 singles for Great Bend.
At No. 2 singles, Macy Moyers made it through her first four matches before losing a game. She finished the day beating Dodge City’s Cadence Keeten, 8-6, and Garden City’s Allison Doll, 8-1.
“Macy Moyers stepped up and won gold for us,” Shannon Schartz said. “She was overpowering today. She’s going to be one of the best No. 2’s around.”
Great Bend finished with 60 points to lead the field. Defending Class 2A state champion Ellinwood finished in second with 32.
“I was pretty happy with how the kids played, especially short-handed,” Ellinwood head coach Lyle Stickney said. “We only had three entries, and we still finished in second place. We had a girl injured and my usual No. 2 doubles team had a prior commitment.
“We got second in both No. 1’s. Both of those entries did well.”
The Lady Eagles are reloading after graduating five seniors, returning only Oma Thomas from the state championship team.
Thomas finished second in the No. 1 singles competition.
Lady Eagles’ No. 1 doubles team Rachel Doll and Danae Patten finished second as well.
“We’re really young, for the most part,” Stickney said. “We have one senior, two sophomores and three freshmen when everybody’s healthy and can show up. We’re small in numbers, but we’re mighty.
“I forget sometimes how young we are, but it is really rewarding how these kids battle.”
Great Bend travels to Dodge City on Thursday for an invitational, starting at 3 p.m.
Ellinwood hosts a quadrangular at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

PREP TENNIS
Great Bend High School/Ellinwood

At Great Bend Invitational
Great Bend

Saturday

Team standings
1. Great Bend, 60; 2. Ellinwood, 32; 3. Dodge City, 32; 4. Garden City, 30; 5. WaKeeney, 23; 6. Liberal, 21; 7. Nickerson, 12

Great Bend results
No. 1 Singles — Morgan Francis def. Nickerson, 8-0; def. WaKeeney, 8-4; def. Liberal, 8-0; def. Ellinwood, 8-3; def. Dodge City, 8-1; def. Garden City, 8-4.
No. 2 Singles — Macy Moyers def. Nickerson, 8-0; def. WaKeeney, 8-0; def. Liberal, 8-0; def. Ellinwood, 8-0; def. Dodge City, 8-6; def. Garden City, 8-1.
No. 1 Doubles — Brianna Schartz & Jami McVay def. Nickerson, 8-0; def. WaKeeney, 8-0; def. Liberal, 8-0; def. Ellinwood, 8-1; def. Garden City, 8-3.
No. 2 Doubles — Stephanie Langer & Paola Ramirez def. WaKeeney, 8-4; def. Liberal, 8-2; def. Dodge City, 8-1; def. Garden City, 8-1.

Ellinwood results
No. 1 Singles — Oma Thomas def. WaKeeney, 8-1; def. Dodge City, 8-4; def. Garden City, 8-3; lost to Great Bend, 8-3; lost to Liberal, 8-1; def. Nickerson, 8-1.
No. 2 Singles — Ashley Hardcastle lost to WaKeeney, 8-4; lost to Dodge City, 8-0; lost to Garden City, 8-3; lost to Great Bend, 8-0; lost to Liberal, 8-2; lost to Nickerson, 8-0.
No. 1 Doubles — Rachel Doll & Danae Patten def. WaKeeney, 8-3; def. Garden City, 8-1; lost to Great Bend, 8-1; def. Liberal, 8-3; def. Nickerson, 8-0.