Even in defeat, Hannibal coach Jay Johnson was pleased with his team’s effort during Tuesday’s regional dual against Kirksville.
The two teams split six singles matches before the Tigers claimed victory in two doubles games, thereby earning a trip in the sectional round.
Hannibal’s day was full of heroic performances that pushed Kirksville to the limit. Andrew Ouellette won his singles match in straight sets despite losing to the same player twice already this season. Also stepping up was Nate Jackson, who filled in at No. 6 singles for his brother, Eli, who was sick.
“Nate played a heck of a match for us to push it into doubles tied 3-3,” said Hannibal coach Jay Johnson. “It really gave us a big lift at the time.”
In doubles, Ethan Mobley and Chris Hassien were taken out by the same Kirksville twosome that denied them a district championship a day earlier. The match would end when Daniel Ouellette and Jackson – playing as a doubles team for the first time this season – lost a second-set tiebreaker for the set, and consequently, the match.
“Kirksville is a very good dual team. Their top six are very good, but I’m really happy with the way our kids played today. They gave it the old college try and I’m proud of them.”
The team finished the season strong, winning the North Central Missouri Conference Tournament and then taking second at districts. The team will also be represented at the state meet by Mobley and Hassien in doubles.
“We’ve improved all through the year,” Johnson said. “I felt like after we won the conference tournament we practiced a little harder and our intensity picked up. These guys are great competitors.
“I’m real pleased with how this season went.”
Results
Singles – Andrew Ouellette won 6-2, 6-1; Ethan Mobley won 6-4, 6-4; Chris Hassein lost 5-7, 4-6; Kyle Bowman lost 0-6, 0-6; Daniel Ouellette lost 3-6, 1-6; Nate Jackson won 6-2, 0-6, 6-2
Doubles – Mobley/Hassein lost 2-6, 1-6; A. Ouellette/Bowman lost 5-7, 3-4; D. Ouellette/Jackson lost 4-6, 6-7 (4-7)
