TENNIS: Liberty’s Ihmels, Palo Verde’s Newell claim final state singles spots
Liberty’s Dylan Ihmels and Palo Verde’s Kristen Newell earned the final singles spots in this week’s Division I state tennis tournament by winning play-in matches at Darling Tennis Center on Tuesday.
Ihmels defeated Bishop Gorman’s Aaron Bailey, 6-2, 6-3 in the boys singles match.
Newell, who also will help lead the Panthers in the girls team competition, was a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Coronado’s Nikoletta Nikoloff in the girls singles match.
Palo Verde also swept Tuesday’s doubles matches.
Teijiro Nishimura and Kota Cook won the boys doubles match, defeating Liberty’s Tristan Hoyle and Matt Drongensen, 6-3, 6-3.
Tia Okano and Isabella Shelton were 6-1, 6-2 winners over Green Valley’s Megan Madrid and Racquel Holder in the girls doubles match.
The team competition in both Division I and Division I-A begins Thursday in Reno. The individual tournaments start Friday.
