Lady Owls finish second in district

The Lady Owls extended their state-record streak of 23 straight playoff appearances by taking second place in the Class 1, District 7 Tournament: (bottom row, from left) Amy Van, Virginia Hutcherson, Haley Evans, (top row) head coach Susan Carney, Allea Summers, Audra Taylor, Skylar Simpson and assistant coach Paul Gieringer.
(Chris Allen/Democrat-News)

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Although the Lady Owls didn't win Saturday's Class 1, District 7 Tournament at Marshall, they extended their state record of 23 straight appearances in the MSHSAA playoffs. By winning four of five head-to-head matches over the Birds, Grain Valley took the title by a margin of 28 to 26 points to reach the post-season for the first time and receive the opportunity to host the sectional tournament this weekend.

Second a year ago, the No. 1 team of senior Virginia Hutcherson and sophomore Haley Evans led the way for Marshall by claiming the doubles championship. They will return to the MSHSAA Class 1 Individual Championships, Oct. 23-24 at Springfield, Hutcherson for the third time.

It was Hutcherson's fourth district medal, having come in fourth in singles as a freshman, but her first gold.

Hutcherson and Evans, seeded No. 1 in the tourney, didn't lose a set while winning four matches during the day. They beat duos from Richmond (6-4, 6-0) and Chillicothe (6-1, 6-1) to begin the meet, then got a key 6-1, 6-1 victory in the semifinal round over the Lady Eagles' pair of junior Ali Ehlen and sophomore Lanae Wilke.

The second win by the Lady Owls' No. 2 combo of sophomores Skylar Simpson and Allea Summers (6-4, 6-4) against senior Kaylynn McClain and junior Megan Kaldenberg of Grain Valley -- whom they had defeated earlier in the week -- kept Marshall in the title hunt.

However, Simpson and Summers couldn't muster another win to put the Lady Owls over the top. They dropped a tough 6-4, 6-2 semifinal clash with the Higginsville pair of senior Melissa Bueker and sophomore Laura Sappington in the semifinals and a 10-1 tilt against Ehlen and Wilke in the third-place match.

Hutcherson and Evans, having downed Bueker and Sappington, 10-1, during an Aug. 27 dual match, posted their third straight 6-1, 6-1 decision in the finals.

Sophomore Amy Van picked up some points for Marshall in singles by getting a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 win over Chillicothe sophomore Laura Turner -- whom she had beaten 8-0 on Sept. 3 -- after a first-round bye. Unfortunately, Van drew Grain Valley junior Katelynn Barr in the quarterfinal round.

Barr reached the district singles finals last year, only to fall to Kirksville all-stater Amy Ochs, but wouldn't be stopped this time around. Van scrapped, but was eliminated with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Barr, who went on to beat Warrensburg junior Danielle Wells for the gold, 6-4, 7-5.

Senior Audra Taylor also helped the Lady Owls' cause with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Carrollton sophomore Brandy Brock in the first round, but could go no further -- stopped by junior Leanna Meredith, 6-0, 6-0, in a contest between the Lady Eagles' No. 3 player against Marshall's No. 6.

If Grain Valley can defeat visiting Higginsville (14.5 points) in Tuesday's regional round, it will host the sectional meet.

The Lady Owls can make it there with a home win Tuesday against third-place Warrensburg (17.5).