Tiger tennis headed to state

The Red Oak girls tennis team lost its first match at the Class 1A Region 2 finals but won the next five matches over Pella to advance to this Saturday’s state tennis tournament at Johnston High School.

After Katy Allen, the top-ranked singles player in Class 1A knocked off Rachel Pierson 6-0, 6-3 in the No. 1 singles match, the Tigers didn’t lose another singles match and didn’t have to compete in any doubles matches.

“We expected we could win but there were some good matches that will help us at state,” Tiger coach Dan Martinez said.

Pierson’s sister Emily defeated Kelly Korver 6-0, 6-2 in their No. 2 match and Kaelly Piller took down Jaime Resich 6-0, 6-3 in their No. 3 match.

But it was the Tiger’s No. 4, match that Martinez pointed to as the difference for his team. Trailing Hilary Nassman 2-5, the Tigers’ Macy Kinnard rallied for five straight points and a 7-5 win.

“She’s had some struggles this season but she really played well. Probably her best match of the year,” Martinez said. “If we lose that one, we have to go to doubles. But she pulled it out and we’re able to finish it out in doubles.”

Brittany Walker and Liz Cooper both won the No. 5 and No. 6 matches to complete the Tiger scoring.

The Tigers will take on Dubuque Walhlert at Johnson High School at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The winners will face the winners of Camanche and Waterloo Columbus in the Class 1A championship.