Tigers defeated by Carl Junction

Friday, April 21, 2017

The Nevada Tigers’ tennis team fell to Joplin High School 8-1 in a non-conference match held Thursday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.

Nevada’s fourth consecutive loss brings its record to 3-6-1 overall (1-2 West Central Conference).

Nevada’s lone win came at No. 6 singles, as Gabe Barnes improved to 5-2 on the season with a decisive 8-2 victory over Riley Kunce.

In other singles action, Nevada’s No. 1 Sheel Patel was beat by Benjamin Bird 8-0; at No. 2, Joplin’s Drew Irwin toppled Jace Lanham 8-1; at No. 3 Nevada’s Tanner Gotschall was derailed by Joe Wolf 8-1; at No. 4 Joplin’s Brett Boline edged Caleb Theis 9-7; at No. 5 Joplin’s Noah Kunce doubled-up Colson Fisher 8-4.

NHS tennis coach Clayton Wheeler said he was impressed with his team’s effort.

“One of the toughest things with a young tennis team is getting them to realize that the final score of the match does not necessarily tell the whole story of the match,” Wheeler said.

“The score does not tell the effort that the player has displayed or the sportsmanship they show. It shows that they battled and fell short.

“We always discuss what can be improved for the next match.”

Nevada was swept in its doubles matches. The Tigers’ top duo, Patel and Theis fell to Bird and Irwin 8-3. Nevada’s No. 2, team Lanham and Fisher were bested by Wolf and Boline 8-3. At No. 3, Kunce and Kunce upended Gotschall and Barnes 8-1.

“All the players tonight gave some of the best effort they have all season,” Wheeler noted.

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