Tough schedule has made Sion ready for Missouri Class 1 team state semifinals

The goal for the Notre Dame de Sion High School girls tennis team hasn’t been to win every dual match this season.

Winning every match against the best teams in Missouri and Kansas is a tall order. But here’s the thing: Sion has done it, going through the regular season and first three postseason matches with a 14-0 dual record.

“We’ve played a difficult schedule,” coach Bill Munninghoff said. “The girls have been tested. We’ve tried to find the best teams to play that we could find.”

As Notre Dame de Sion heads into the Missouri Class 1 team state semifinals on Thursday morning at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, the players would have to feel as if they have done everything they could to prepare.

Just look at whom the Storm beat in duals this year: St. Thomas Aquinas, the Kansas 5A state champions; Wichita Independent, the Kansas 4A state champion; Blue Valley North, the Kansas 6A state runner-up; and Missouri Class 2 state semifinalists Springfield Kickapoo and Park Hill.

The Storm will face Chillicothe in the team semifinals.

In addition to the team state tournament, Sion also will compete in the individual singles and doubles state tournament beginning Friday in Springfield.

Amy Barnthouse and Emmy Bird will compete in singles play, while Maddie Keller and Ali Patterson will play doubles.

•Park Hill makes its first appearance since 1998 in the Missouri Class 2 state semifinals.

The Trojans face Springfield Kickapoo in their semifinal match, then either St. Joseph’s Academy or Marquette for first or third place on Thursday.

The Trojans have three individuals participating in the singles and doubles tournament.

Kate Skorija will play in the singles portion, while Merritt Whitley and Suzanne Barth will play as a doubles team.

submitted by COLE YOUNG - 2008-10-21 23:55:02

Comments - leave comment