Kennett claims medals at first annual Kennett Invitational girls tennis tournament

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Kennett’s Hadley Hilburn (left) and Heidi Shetley (right) took first in doubles at the Kennett Invitational Saturday.

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett high school girls tennis team claimed three medals at the first annual Kennett Invitational Saturday afternoon.

Kennett’s Heidi Shetley and Hadley Hilburn finished first in the doubles bracket with Kennett’s Anna Beth Williams taking second in the singles bracket.

“It was exciting for us to get to host our first tournament here,” Kennett coach Janet Hilburn said. “Everything went really well and the rain stayed away. I think it was a big success.”

Hilburn-Shetley beat Arcadia Valley’s Madison Bates and Sidney Tyndall 8-0 in a quarterfinal, beat Notre Dame’s Taylor Kohlfeld and Julia Kohlfeld 8-0 in a semifinal and beat Dexter’s Morgan Aldridge and Macy Urhahn 8-2 in the championship of the double tournament.

“We are working together well,” Shetley said. “Our hard work paid off today. Our net play is improving and we are communicating well together.”

Hadley Hilburn said her and her partner’s skill sets make for a strong doubles fit.

“I think I’m stronger on the baseline and Heidi is stronger at the net, which makes for a good duo,” Hadley Hilburn said. “Our games compliment each other well and make for a good doubles team.”

Williams beat Notre Dame’s Kathleen Harold 8-1 in a quarterfinal and Dexter’s Lexi May 8-3 in a semifinal before falling to Notre Dame’s Grace Powderly 8-3 in the singles bracket championship.

“I’m pretty satisfied with the way I played,” Williams said. “I played Grace more competitively today than in the Sikeston Tournament. I was pretty proud of that. I’m always looking to improve as the season progresses. I’m hoping to continue to improve my serving between now and the district and we will see what we can do when we get there.”

Kennett’s Darcy Campbell and Sydni McAtee also competed in the doubles bracket. Campbell-McAtee dropped their quarterfinal to Dexter’s Aldridge and Urhahn 8-6 before beating Arcadia Valley’s Claire Hemphill and Trinity Chappell 8-0 in a consolation match.

Kennett’s Kayton Harris also competed in the singles bracket. Harris dropped her quarterfinal to Arcadia Valley’s Tripp 8-6 and lost her consolation match to Dexter’s Reagan Miller 8-1.

Kennett is back in action Thursday when it visits Sikeston.

“We’ve got to keep on plugging,” coach Hilburn said. “I’m hoping these tough matches that have been very close help us when we get to the district at the end of the season.”

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Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Kennett’s Anna Beth WIlliams (pictured) took second in singles at the Kennett Invitational Tournament Saturday.