The Ottumwa High School girls tennis team opened its season at the Chuck Schupbach Memorial Invitational on Saturday, finishing in third place with 17 team points. Competing at Byrnes Park in Waterloo—the same venue that will host the Class 2A state tournament later in the season—the Bulldogs earned medals across six different divisions while securing 10 match victories throughout the day.
Ana Toloza led the Bulldogs’ singles performance, capturing a silver medal in the No. 5 singles bracket with a 2-1 record. Toloza rebounded from an early loss to defeat both Decorah and Columbus Catholic opponents to secure the second-place finish. Madalynn Sertterh and Abigail Ellison also earned bronze medals in singles competition, with Ellison noting improvements in her court positioning since last season that have enhanced her overall play.
In doubles competition, Sertterh and Sonya Lundgren took silver in the top doubles bracket, winning their first two matches before falling in the championship match. Ellison partnered with Harper Bradley to finish second in No. 2 doubles, while Toloza and Bradie McWilliams earned bronze in the No. 3 doubles division.
Head coach Leanna White praised her team’s communication and growing aggression throughout the tournament, noting that many players competed in their first varsity matches. The Bulldogs continue their home season Tuesday against Des Moines Hoover at Dan Staggs Family Courts beginning at 10 a.m., marking both teams’ Iowa Alliance Conference opener.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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