Tennis: Tigers rolling into playoffs

Both the Douglas High boys' and girls' tennis teams closed out the regular season with wins over Fallon Thursday afternoon and they'll both enter next week's playoffs as the No. 2 seed out of the Sierra League.

The Tiger girls were minus several key players due to injury and illness, and defending regional champ Kari TenBroeck was out of town for a family function.

Still, Douglas pounded out a 12-6 win against a much-improved Fallon squad in Minden.

"We needed an adjusted lineup for the second-straight match," coach Roger Rusmisel said. "Once again, the team demonstrated their growth as tennis players and the strength of their character."

Amelia Ritger and Rochelle Seymour provided the bulk of the points, each going 3-0 on the singles side and Katie Sawicki added a crucial singles win in the second round.

Ritger's three wins came without surrendering a game, marking 14 straight sets she's won 6-0.

Amanda Caras and Chelsea Fent moved into the No. 1 doubles slot for the match and picked up a pair of wins, including a come-from-behind tiebreaker in Round 2.

Kelly Sonneman and Zoe VanderByl picked up a pair of wins as well and Rose Lombine and Marissa Menicucci added Douglas' final point.

The Tigers host High Desert No. 3 McQueen Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Minden.

The Douglas boys, 14-4 victors over the Greenwave, will be playing in their first team playoff match since 2007 next week. They'll host High Desert No. 3 Reed at noon in Minden.

"As a team, we're thrilled to be going to regionals," coach Rod Smith said. "We know all the teams in regionals well be tough, but we are excited and ready for the huge challenges ahead."

James TenBroeck breezed through his three sets, Pat Johnson went 2-0 and Cody Tindel and Austin Ball each picked up a win on the singles side.

"Austin Ball continues to surprise me with his athleticism and his will to compete," Smith said. "He beat a very accomplished player."

On the doubles' side, the teams of Grant Mason-Shane Patton, Matt Thomas-Matt Williams and Craig Stratton-Garon Athanacio each went 2-0 and Kory Koskin and Joey Swisher posted the Tigers final win of the day.