Coach Eric Hanson said one thing that stands out is the players’ work ethic.

“I think what you saw in the team is a real desire to get better at every level,” Hanson said. “They were willing to buy into the program of, ‘If I work harder, good things happen.’”

And Hanson says this is the most depth he’s ever seen the program, at every level.

“The varsity is fairly well-chronicled,” Hanson said. “Our JV went down and they took two firsts, a second, and a fourth at the JV tournament, and there were 16 teams there. And it goes with the idea that they’re just willing to work hard, and to get better.

“We’ve come close the last couple years,” Hanson said. “What we finally saw now was, all the stars were lined up to go that one step further and win a district championship. And they went out there, and they just simply won it.”

The team’s success was unprecedented this season. But Hanson said individual wins along the way–both this year and last year–help build a stronger program over time.

“Obviously success builds on itself. A successful program is just that — a program. What Samantha Minor and Courtney Jenkins, who won the district championship last year, illustrate is that if you put in your time, and you work hard, and you work at perfecting those skills that will take you there, there’s the end result.

“I think it’s really important because what it shows them is that if you have a goal in mind, and you’re willing to put the time in, to go get it, then you get that reward. For the young players, it helps because they can come out here and be part of a strong program.”

For the 2011 Lady Tigers, the improvement over time was a direct result of being surrounded by a strong team.

“I think one of the special things about this program is that these girls made each other better on a daily basis,” Hanson said. “And so it’s kind of a self-fulfilling thing, because you come out and you get better, just because of the people you’re around.”

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Henne went on to win her quarterfinal match before losing to eventual state champion Sydney Lehman of John Burroughs High School in the semis.

Minor helped lead Republic to its most successful girls tennis season ever. She filled the #1 singles spot, and paired up with Meagan McCord on the #1 doubles team. The Lady Tigers won their first district title and advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing to Bolivar.

(Photo courtesy Rodger Wheeler, Republic Monitor)

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Original Story:

The Lady Tigers tennis team is into the state quarterfinals this afternoon at home against Bolivar.

Republic beat Carl Junction in the state sectionals this morning, 5-1. Bolivar beat Warrensburg 5-2 to advance on their side of the bracket, setting up an all-COC quarterfinal.

Samantha Minor def. Emily Cook 1-6 6-2 6-3
Courtney Jenkins def. Haley Pope 6-4 6-1
Danielle Hopkins def. Megan Boline 6-3 6-3
Rebecca O’Hanahan def. Meagan McCord 6-1 1-6 6-4
Jordan Jones def. Sierra Edwards 6-2 6-2
Samantha Minor/Meagan McCord def. Haley Pope/Megan Boline 6-2 6-4

The singles match between Republic’s Hayley Walser and Carl Junction’s Cheyenne Pickett was still in progress when Minor/McCord won their match to clinch the Republic victory.

Republic and Bolivar did not play during the regular season. The winner of this afternoon’s match will advance to the state tournament at Cooper Tennis Complex next week.

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Republic’s doubles team of Jordan Jones and Courtney Jenkins lost to Greenwood’s Elle and Lucie Prewitt, 6-0, 6-1.

The state tournament will be held next week at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.

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Minor, Jenkins and Jones will compete in individual sectionals next Tuesday, starting at 4pm.

All six members of the team, including Danielle Hopkins, Meagan McCord and Hayley Walser, will compete in team sectionals on Saturday, Oct. 15, in Republic.

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The 3-3 split in singles left the final outcome up to three doubles matches. Two Republic teams — Courtney Jenkins and Jordan Jones, and Hayley Walser and Danielle Hopkins — won their matches in straight sets. Republic’s other doubles team — Samantha Minor and Meagan McCord — was leading when the Lady Tigers clinched the overall victory.

Republic advances to sectionals on Saturday, October 15th. They’ll host the match against an opponent to be decided.

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Republic had fallen behind by losing three of the first four singles matches. Only Minor won in the early going, 6-3 6-3. Faced with potential elimination, Courtney Jenkins (6-3 2-6 6-4) and Danielle Hopkins (6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-3)) both pulled out close singles victories to even the overall score at three matches apiece.

Courtney Jenkins and Jordan Jones won their doubles match, while Hayley Walser and Danielle Hopkins lost theirs. That left it up to Minor/McCord to pull out the win in straight sets.

The Lady Tigers advance to the district finals, which they’ll play Wednesday evening at Republic.

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Republic’s lone first-place finish was in doubles, when Danielle Hopkins and Hayley Walser finished first in their flight. Second-place finishers for Republic were Samantha Minor, Courtney Jenkins, Danielle Hopkins, and Jordan Jones; and the doubles teams of Samantha Minor/Meagan McCord and Courtney Jenkins/Jordan Jones.

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