Dahl wins fourth in Inland Empire tournament

NEWPORT — Marrisa Dahl had a good week playing for the Newport girls’ tennis team.

After losing to Freeman Monday, April 21, Newport’s No. 1 singles girls’ player easily won against a Reardon player in two sets the next day, beat her St. George’s opponent in two sets Wednesday, then went to Spokane to play in the Inland Empire Tennis Tournament, a big two-day tournament.

“Marisa secured her spot to day two losing to the number 4 seed before winning the next two matches to put her to Saturday,” Newport coach Brandon McDaniel says. “She played a tough first match day two and won by default the next match putting her in fourth place in the tournament which was a great accomplishment for her.”

Grace Keck and her doubles partner Olivia Jackman were on their way to making it to day two, but Keck suffered a shoulder injury and they had to default, ending their promising run.

The Inland Empire tournament capped a busy week for Newport. Freeman swept the girls’ team Monday and Preston Davis was the only player to get a win for the boys, winning solidly in two sets at No. 1 singles.

The next day against Reardon, the girls won all their matches and the boys’ team got a 2-2 tie, with singles wins by Davis and Jeffrey Newman at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Markus Will took a loss at No. 3 singles and had to forfeit at No. 1 doubles, failing to field a team. Both Reardan and Newport were unable to field a team at No. 2 doubles.

The following day, Wednesday, April 23, the Grizzlies hosted St. George’s, with the girls’ team also getting a five-match sweep. Dahl didn’t let her St. George’s opponent win a single game in their match. Lindsay Collison won in two sets at No.2 singles. Jackman and Keck easily won in two at No. 2 doubles. Olivia Sears and Emmalee Doughty won in two sets at No. 1 doubles.

“They continue to grow and are going to have a shot in the district tournament this year,” McDaniel says of Sears and Doughty.

The Newport boys’ team, which only has three players, lost 3-2, forfeiting at No. 3 singles and both doubles matches.

McDaniel says the team rounds out its regular season with away matches before starting the district tournament at Freeman the following week Saturday, May 10 at Freeman.

The tennis teams will play league matches against Freeman Friday, May 2 and Lind-Ritzville Wednesday, May 7 before starting districts.