Published: May 11, 2009 11:44 am      

Ada tennis girls have rough finish

OKLAHOMA CITY—The Ada girls tennis team simply picked a bad season for a rebuilding year.

After finishing among the elite squads in Class 5A and reaching the finals in No. 1 doubles each of the past five seasons (and winning three times), the young Lady Cougars struggled home ninth behind 5A newcomer Bishop McGuinness Saturday at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center.

McGuinness, which didn’t lose a match all season in cruising to the 4A title last spring, dominated the team standing in 5A as well, winning championships in all four events to easily outdistance defending champion Bishop Kelley (26 points) and Duncan (24).

Ada’s No. 1 doubles team of Erica Poe (the only returnee off last year’s squad) and Madison Whitworth managed the team’s only four points with a fifth-place finish. They beat a team from Guthrie, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, in the fifth-place match.

“The girls played hard in the toughest class in the state this year,” veteran Ada tennis coach Skip Griese said.

Ada played—and lost—in the quarterfinal consolation matches in its other three events. Jennifer West was beaten by Taylor Haddad of Shawnee, 6-1, 6-0, in No. 1 Singles, Holly Dennis fell, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Taylor Thompson of Shawnee in No. 2 Singles, and the Ada No. 2 Doubles team of Kacey Blackwell and Andreea Gorley was beaten in a marathon, 7-6, 4-6, 4-6.