The three Liberty Bell High School tennis players who competed at last week’s regional meet in Cashmere all played well, but ultimately were not able to advance to the state tournament.
Junior Josh Frey advanced the farthest in the singles bracket. After losing to Chelan on May 19, 3-6, 4-6, he returned on Saturday (May 23) to claim victory in an epic match against Cascade. The players traded 6-2 victories in the first two sets, then battled through a lengthy third set that Frey won by claiming the final game, 7-6 on a 9-7 tiebreaker.
The match went so long that Frey — who coach Dave Schulz said was a little under the weather — had only about 20 minutes to rest before facing Cashmere. Frey lost that match, 3-6, 4-6, then decided not to attempt playing for an alternate position to the state tournament.
Schulz said that Frey at one point fired 10 consecutive aces in the match against Cascade. “He really came along this year and played well,” the coach said.
In doubles competition, Dreton Acord and Jesse Schulz took on Chelan on May 19, losing 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. In the losers bracket on Saturday, they came close again versus Oroville before bowing out, 6-2, 4-6, 5-7.
Although the team is losing 10 seniors, Schulz said a good nucleus is returning for next year. On the girls’ side, quite a few freshmen played this year and will benefit from the experience, the coach said.
Schulz said there will be a potluck dessert for the team on Thursday (May 28) at 7 p.m. in the Liberty Bell cafeteria.
