Tennis captures MVC title with nine 1st place finishes
By Ray Popkess
Katie Watts swats a serve to her opponent during her semi-final match on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Lila Gallia returns a ball against her opponent from Mascoutah during her singles semi-final match.
Perfection is certainly something we all strive for but this year none have captured this goal quite like Triad’s Girls’ Tennis team.
Recently completing an undefeated season with a 23-0 record in dual matches, the Knights came into the final MVC Tennis tournament as clear favorites.
Jersey Community High School hosted the doubles flights on Friday, Oct. 10, with all three doubles groupings for Triad at the top of their bracket earning first round byes.
Katie Watts and Hailey D’Aunoy took the first flight in a finals matchup against Highland in two sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Averi Moore and London Looby took on all comers in the second flight, capturing their doubles bracket against Jersey in two sets, 6-2, 6-0.
Kacey Ruger and Lila Gallia also won their doubles flight against Highland in two sets, 6-2, 6-0.
Kacey Ruger locks in on a return.
Triad hosted the singles tournament on Saturday, Oct. 11 and the dominance continued. All six competitors began their bracket with first round byes as well.
Averi Moore lines up a return.
Averi Moore took first place in the first flight. Katie Watts captured first place in the second flight. London Looby defeated all opponents in the third flight. Kacey Ruger earned her first place medal in the fourth flight. Lila Gallia came away with a first place finish in the fifth flight, including a marathon match in the semi-finals, a match she battled to win in three sets, 3-6, 6-0, 10-4. Hailey D’Aunoy defeated her opponents to capture a sixth first place medal for Triad, rounding out the singles action and decisively capturing the conference title.
With the perfect regular season record, Head Coach Devan Faulkenburg has now entered the top 10 on the All-Time Wins list for Triad coaches. With a total of 230 wins, he passed Girls’ Soccer coach Matt Bettlach and long-time Boys’ Soccer coach Mike Villa.
London Looby returns a hit from her opponent.
Hailey D’Aunoy queues up a serve during her semi-final match.
