Bulldog Netters Fall In District Rematch, 7-2

For two years in a row, Trenton and Maryville have battled it out for Class 1, District 16 supremacy. In 2016, the ’Hounds ended Trenton’s bid for a district championship in the finals. In 2017, Trenton ended Maryville’s season in the semifinals en route to a district crown of its own.
On Monday at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, the two schools met again.
The difference this time around was Maryville had lost just one senior from last year’s squad, while Trenton lost four. That was plenty of an advantage for the home squad, who sent the Bulldogs packing with a 7-2 defeat.
Trenton’s number-one doubles team of Emma Gilham and Lexi Gott erased an early 3-0 deficit, rallying back for an 8-6 victory. That would be Trenton’s only doubles win of the dual despite some solid play as Elle Neal and Latorrie Johnson and Kendall Crowley and Morgan Dolan each fell by 8-5 scores.
In singles play, Gott continued to have a strong day, netting an 8-3 win at number five.
As was the case in doubles play, though, Trenton would muster just one win in singles competition. Gilham and Neal each fell 8-3 at numbers one and two, respectively, and Crowley lost 8-5 at number three. Johnson was defeated 8-2 at number four and Dolan lost 8-1 at number six.
“It was a beautiful night on the courts at the campus of NWMSU,” Trenton Coach Tammy Ockenfels said. “We lost, but I saw a lot of good tennis out of the varsity and JV. Our number-one doubles team of Emma and Lexi got down early, but rallied back to win.”
With the loss, Trenton fell to 3-4 overall on the season.
The Bulldogs will look to get back to .500 today, traveling to St. Joseph for a dual with Lafayette at 4 o’clock.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Trenton’s junior varsity competed in nine matches with Maryville and took wins in six.
Emilee Lovell scored a 4-2 win in the only JV singles match played. Other Trenton victories in doubles action came from the duos of Gwyneth Foster and Mallory Sole (4-2), Lovell and Sole (4-2), Bailea Jeannoutot and Alaina Overton (4-1), Foster and Jeannoutot (4-1) and Baley Catron and Overton (4-2). Those in losing action included Catron and Leslie Cotiangco (4-2), Harley Hall and Kaylor Farris (4-1) and Hall and Farris (4-1).