Wolves make statement by netting Holly Invitational title

TOP FLIGHT FINISH: Clarkston's Lexi Baylis won her flight at No. 2 singles and the Wolves captured the Holly Red & White Invitational title Saturday with 24 points. File Photo.

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

HOLLY — All season long Clarkston has looked up to the top of the girls tennis rankings and seen Midland Dow occupy that spot with a target. After Saturday’s results, perhaps the Wolves will be the new team with the largest target on their back.

Clarkston, ranked second in the state in Division 1, won three of the four singles flights and three of the five doubles flights to rack up an impressive 24 points and outdistance the field of several schools who will likely qualify for the state finals in June.

Top-ranked Midland Dow was a distant second with 18 points, followed by Port Huron Northern (17), Farmington Hills Mercy (17), Grand blanc (11),  Holly (7), Holt (7 and Ann Arbor Huron (7).

The Wolves swept the first three singles flight, then picked up wins from its No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 doubles units en route to the tournament win.

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In the singles flights, Gabriella Spindler led the charge with a win at No. 1 singles, taking down Midland Dow’s Daniella Patton 6-3, 6-1 in the finals. Lexi Baylis followed at No. 2 singles with a three-set, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5 edge over Dow’s Christina Young, while Katie Brozovich of Clarkston swept Dow’s Kelli Close, 6-3, 6-2, to prevail in the finals at No. 3 singles.

Dow, which had finalists in all four singles matches, took the crown at No. 4 singles with Katie Close rolling past Mercy’s Margaret Reaume, 6-0, 6-0.

The tournament had five doubles flights instead of the customary four flights and Clarkston took advantage. The Wolves’ No. 5 duo of Jordan Stuart and Alaina Nido took down Port Huron Northern’s Megan Loftus and Delaney Dooley in the flight finals, 6-1, 6-0.

Clarkston’s No. 3 duo of Olivia Dunn and Allie Wilson went three sets to defeat Mercy’s Sara Kenez and Julie Flanagan, rallying for a 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win in the finals. Monique Zentner and Annie Gencay of Clarkston were victories in the No. 4 flight, defeating Port Huron Northern’s Lauren Vandenbossche and Taylor Bringard, 7-5, 6-3.

Additionally, Dow’s Meghan Woody and Allie Vickery swept Clarkston’s freshmen duo of Dana Olsen-Paige Olsen, 6-2, 6-4, in the finals at No. 1 doubles. Mercy’s sole win came at No. 2 doubles, where Kelsey Shaw and Alyssa Muller joined forces to topple Port Huron Northern’s Jenna Brettschneider and Maddie Neaton 6-1, 6-2.

HOLLY RED & WHITE INVITATIONAL

(Saturday at Holly H.S.)

TEAM SCORES — 1. Clarkston, 24; 2. Midland Dow, 18; 3. (tie) Port Huron Northern, 17; Farmington Hills Mercy, 17; 5. Grand Blanc, 11; 6. (tie) Holly, 7; Holt, 7; Ann Arbor Huron, 7.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHTS
SINGLES — 1. Gabriella Spindler (Clarkston) d. Daniella Patton (Midland Dow) 6-3, 6-1; 2. Lexi Baylis (Clarkston) d. Christina Young (Midland Dow) 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5; 3. Katie Brozovich (Clarkston) d. Kelli Close (Midland Dow) 6-3, 6-2; 4. Katie Close (Midland Dow) d. Margaret Reaume (Farmington Hills Mercy) 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES — 1. Meghan Woody-Allie Vickery (Midland Dow) d. Dana Olsen-Paige Olsen (Clarkston) 6-2, 6-4; 2. Kelsey Shaw-Alyssa Muller (Farmington Hills Mercy) d. Jenna Brettschneider-Maddie Neaton (Port Huron Northern) 6-1, 6-2; 3. Olivia Dunn-Allie Wilson (Clarkston) d. Sara Kenez-Julie Flanagan (Farmington Hills Mercy) 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-4; 4. Monique Zentner-Annie Gencay (Clarkston) d. Lauren Vandenbossche-Taylor Bringard (Port Huron Northern) 7-5, 6-3; 5. Jordan Stuart-Alaina Nido (Clarkston) d. Megan Loftus-Delaney Dooley (Port Huron Northern) 6-1, 6-0.

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Tags: Prep Girls Tennis

Category: Clarkston, High School, Prep Wraps