Semoball

Kennett has ridden its depth to tennis Final Four

Three Kennett girl's tennis team will compete Friday and Saturday in the MSHSAA Class 1 Team State Finals in Springfield.
Photo courtesy of Malinda Harris

There has been no shortage of accolades heaped upon Kennett High School tennis player Anelle Harris over the past four seasons. And with good reason.

The Indian senior recently finished in fifth place in the MSHSAA Class 1 Girl's Tennis Individual State Finals.

However, the Indians will compete in the MSHSAA Class 1 Girl’s Tennis TEAM State Finals in Springfield beginning Friday, and Harris is only part of the reason why, not the entire reason.

“We are fortunate to have a pretty solid team and can win down in the lineup,” Kennett coach Janet Hilburn said recently. “That has been an advantage we have had with our success this season.”

Kennett will face Bolivar at the Cooper Tennis Complex on Friday at 9 a.m., while Bishop LeBlond and Westminster Christian play at the same time in the other semifinal.

All four teams will also compete on Saturday at 3 p.m. in either the third-place match or the championship match.

Harris leads the Indians as the No. 1 singles player and teams with fellow senior Audrey Phillips (who is the No. 2 singles player) to form the Indians’ top doubles team.

Handley McAtee is the only freshman on the Kennett roster this fall, but she has made an incredible impact.

“Handley and (sophomore) Christi Tejeda have come in as underclassmen, new to the varsity level,” Hilburn said, “and competed at a top-notch level.”

McAtee will play in the No. 3 singles match this weekend, while she and Tejeda (No. 4 singles) will play in the No. 2 doubles match.

The duo recently competed in the MSHSAA Class 1 Doubles State Finals.

Junior Macy Bazzell and senior Malea Lack will compete in the No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches, respectively, while also teaming for the No. 3 doubles slot.

In a dominating 5-1 sectional win over St. Pius X, Hilburn credited Bazzell and Lack for providing a boost to the team.

“Macy and Malea both won their singles matches and doubles in both matches that day to produce points for the team,” Hilburn said. “That was big.”

Kennett later routed North County 5-2 in the quarterfinals to advance to the Final Four.

The Indians have won 11 District titles in the past 12 seasons and Friday’s trip to Springfield will be the program’s first since consecutive fourth-place finishes in 2012 and 2013.

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