Improving Kahok tennis players seeing results
by Mark Jurgena
COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville High School girls tennis team has seen improved results this season with some match wins and plenty of improved play throughout the team.
“(The season is) going pretty good,” said CHS coach Jessica Thiel. “Overall I’ve been pretty pleased. I’ve had to move a couple of girls around and I’m still trying to figure out how I want my doubles to be. That’s kind of changed each match.”
CHS scored a big 6-3 win over Mascoutah on Sept. 3.
Kahoks Toby Hawkes, Laila Jaoko and Melissa Garciaall won their singles matches over the Indians.
Hawkes and Averey Schult won at number one doubles while at number two doubles Jaoko and Laila Hutchison took a victory.
The Kahok number three doubles team of Garcia and Emma Wagner also took victories. One day later, Collinsville hosted Jerseyville and was beaten 8-1 by the Panthers.
However Hawkes won her match at number one singles by a 6-0, 6-0 score.
Collinsville beat Granite City on Sept. 11 by a 6-3 count in Granite.
Hawkes won her singles match 6-2, 6-0 with Hutchison also winning hers.
Jaoko, Garcia and Ava Digiralamo also won their singles matches.
Hawkes and Garcia won their doubles match.
The girls traveled to perennial tennis power Belleville West on Sept. 12 and while they didn’t fare the best team-wise there was a bright spot on the day.
Hawkes picked up a win at number one singles over Annabelle Brunner 3-6, 6-4, 11-9.
“That was a huge win for her,” said Thiel. “I can’t remember the last time we beat anyone from West, so that was exciting!
“She’s grown so much as a player from her freshman year to her junior year. So it was exciting to watch her be competitive with other number one players.”
That win kept her undefeated in singles play for the season in five matches.
While the season is still young Thiel is looking forward to what the season holds for her team.
“I’ve been pretty impressed,” began Thiel. “Even in the matches we’re losing I still have girls winning games in each set. We haven’t been really blown out by anyone.”
Upcoming Schedule
The Kahoks were scheduled to host Belleville (Althoff) on Monday however that match was canceled.
They were scheduled to meet Father McGivney on Tuesday and O’Fallon yesterday however results were unavailable at press time.
On Saturday they are in the Robert Logan Invite in Alton.
They return to action on Tuesday with a home matchup with Alton (Marquette) and then on Wednesday they will face Roxana in Collinsville.
