Published: May 16, 2008 10:56 am            

River Queen trio advances to state tennis tournament

CLINTON — Clinton High School’s Ellen Russell advanced to another state singles tournament and teammates Katie Crites and Alyson Goetzl advanced to state in doubles at the Iowa Class 2A singles and doubles regional at Max Lynn Courts Thursday.

Russell won the regional singles title with wins of 6-0, 6-2 and 6-0, 6-1 before avenging an early-season loss in the championship.

Russell, the No. 2 seed, topped Iowa City High’s Susanna Howard — the No. 1 seed — 6-0, 6-3 in the final. Russell had lost to Howard 10-1 on the first day of the season.

Crites and Goetzl, also the No. 2 seeds, earned wins of 6-0, 6-4 and 6-3, 6-2 before falling 6-2, 6-2 to top-seeded Chelsea Allbaugh and Alisha Saigal of Pleasant Valley in the doubles championship.

Clinton’s Claire Cornilsen placed third in singles.

“Goetzl and Crites just came ready to play,” River Queens coach Cindy Rasche said. “We are placed with their finish, since it is tough for a No. 2 doubles team to qualify for state. Ellen Russell had lost to Howard 10-1. Through a lot of hard work in practice she redeemed herself.

“She did a super job of using the strategies she was given by the coaching staff. We couldn’t be prouder of her achievements. Claire Cornilsen fought hard and claimed third, the alternate position. Megan Determan and Sarah Massey had a good win and then got a couple games off the No. 1 seed.”

Iowa Class 2A Singles and Doubles Regional

Singles

Clinton Scores

Quarterfinals—Ellen Russell (Clinton) def. White (Pleasant Valley) 6-0, 6-2; Claire Cornilsen (Clinton) def. Martin (Pleasant Valley) 6-2, 6-1.

Semifinals—Russell def. Irey (Davenport Central) 6-0, 6-1; Howard (Iowa City High) def. Cornilsen 6-0, 6-2.

Third place—Cornilsen def. Irey 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

Championship—Russell def. Howard 6-0, 6-3.

Doubles

Camanche Scores

First round—Sarah Massey-Megan Determan (Clinton) def. Agassandian-Triplett (Iowa City High) 7-5, 6-4.

Quarterfinals—Katie Crites-Alyson Goetzl (Clinton) def. Doebel-Bettini (Davenport Central) 6-0, 6-4; Allbaugh-Saigal (Pleasant Valley) def. Massey-Determan 6-1, 6-2.

Semifinals—Crites-Goetzl def. Searles-Kwan (Pleasant Valley) 6-3, 6-2.

Championship—Allbaugh-Saigal def. Crites-Goetzl 6-2, 6-2.

        

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