Tigers fall short at state coeds

 DES MOINES — Both Red Oak tennis doubles teams fell short of reaching the semifinals during last Tuesday’s 2014 Class 1A state coed tennis meet in Des Moines.

The pairing of Kate Walker and Jordan Nelson was eliminated in the quarterfinals when they lost to Dubuque Wahlert’s Courtney Schneider and Jackson Takes in three sets. Schneider and Takes won the first set 6-3. 

Walker and Nelson rallied to win the second set 6-4 and force the third set tiebreaker. 

It was Schneider and Takes who won it though 10-7. 

The Dubuque Wahlert team lost in the semifinals to the eventual champions, Lauren McManus and Connor Barnard.

Spirit Lake-Okoboji’s Hailey Johnson and Ryley Smith eliminated Red Oak’s other doubles team, Paige Vannausdle and Weston Rolenc, in the second round. 

Johnson and Smith won the match 2-6, 6-3 and 1-0 (9).

Both Red Oak teams were able to cruise to first round wins. 

Walker and Nelson defeated Keokuk’s Alexis Kemp and Drake Reiter 6-1, 6-2. 

Vannausdle and Rolenc defeated Grinnell’s Jackie Johnson and Nathan Oster 6-4, 7-6(3) in the first round.

Walker and Nelson reached the quarterfinals when they defeated Shenandoah’s Hannah Dailey and Brad Young 6-2, 7-6(7).

Last year, Walker, along with her older brother Pete, won the coed state title.