MHS tennis: Lady Owls' duo 1-2 at state

Marshall senior Virginia Hutcherson closed out a fine prep career with her fourth appearance in the state tournament. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

SPRINGFIELD -- Senior Virginia Hutcherson and sophomore Haley Evans got off to a better start during their second trip together to the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls' Tennis Individual Championships than they did a year ago.

Ultimately, though, the Marshall doubles team came up shy of a state medal Friday at Springfield.

The Lady Owls began the tournament with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over senior twins Vickie and Yiota Panousis of Kennett, but couldn't get past the quarterfinal round -- falling to sophomore Katy Barentzhold and junior Katie Smith of John Burroughs Prep in St. Louis, 6-2, 6-2.

That brought Hutcherson and Evans into an elimination tilt against familiar foes from Moberly, seniors Kelly Wamsley and Sarah David. Although they hadn't played each other in doubles this season, Wamsley being paired with a different partner during the Sept. 8 NCMC match -- and then pulling out with a leg cramp -- each pair had split their singles matches.

The Lady Spartans won the first set, 7-5, but Marshall came back for a 6-3 win in the second. That left a rally-scoring tiebreaker, with Moberly getting the 10-5 victory. Wamsley and David didn't make it past the next round, while Barentzhold and Smith finished fourth.

Players from private schools claimed all six doubles medals and five of six in singles, the exception being Kirksville senior Jean Ochs -- the previously unbeaten NCMC Tournament champion placing sixth.

The Hutcherson-Evans combo closed the season with a 15-5 record and District 4 gold medal to its credit. It was the fourth time Hutcherson had gone to state, the last three in doubles.