Kalamazoo – Lakeview Girls Tennis Team at MHSAA Tournament
The Lakeview girls tennis team had an impressive showing at the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 2 state tournament held over the weekend, finishing in a commendable 10th place. This achievement was bolstered by the exceptional performances of two standout players who progressed to the semifinals on the final day of competition.
Standout Performances
Maddy Simonds and Sade Blackwell were pivotal in earning the Spartans a top-10 finish, with each reaching the semifinals after overcoming early round challenges on Friday.
Maddy Simonds’ Journey
Simonds, competing in the No. 1 singles category, began her tournament as a fourth seed with a bye. She dominated her second-round match against Piper Coon of Berkley, winning decisively with a score of 6-0, 6-0. Advancing to the third round, Simonds continued her strong form by defeating Daniella Ajao from North Farmington with a score of 6-1, 6-3. Unfortunately, her journey ended in the semifinals against the top-seeded Dalina Kokoshi from Grosse Pointe South, where she lost 6-4, 6-1.
Sade Blackwell’s Performance
On the other hand, Blackwell entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the No. 2 singles category. She began with an impressive win over Quinn Breslin from Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, again with a commanding score of 6-0, 6-0, and followed it up with a victory against Olivia Kowal of Grosse Pointe South, scoring 6-0, 6-1. However, Blackwell’s run ended in the semifinals as she faced Jada Josifovski of Birmingham Seaholm, losing 6-2, 6-2.
“It’s been a fantastic achievement for our program to qualify for the state tournament four consecutive years,” remarked Jeff VanDis, co-coach of the team. “Setting a goal to be in the top 10 and achieving that really speaks to the dedication and hard work of these girls throughout the season. Coach Stuart Smith and I are incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished this year.”
Additional Highlights
In addition to the singles performances, Lakeview’s Emmy Ruger managed to secure a victory at No. 3 singles before getting eliminated in her subsequent match. The team also collected points from several doubles pairs, with notable wins from:
- Zoe Brizendine and Anya Foljahn at No. 2 doubles
- Josie Pawlowicz and Malanie Young at No. 3 doubles
- Lillie Miller alongside Kiera Ramirez at No. 4 doubles
Although these doubles teams also faced elimination afterward, their contributions significantly aided the team’s overall scores.
