Questions about depth for the defending district champion Republic Lady Tigers can be put to rest for now. The Lady Tigers outplayed Nixa in a COC battle to start the season, winning six of nine varsity matches.
Coach Eric Hanson had worried about whether the youngsters on his varsity squad would step up to replace the players he lost to graduation last year.
“I’m happy with the good start. You always look at that first one out as a gauge on how you’re going to do,” says Hanson. “We’ve got some things to work on, but overall I’m pretty happy.
“We showed some young talent stepping up and playing to the position they’re in,” he says.
Republic’s lead player, Samantha Minor, dominated her first singles match of the year. She blew by Lyndsey Hamilton 8-0. Danielle Hopkins (8-4), Michaela Moore (8-3), and Ta’lor Sandul (8-3) also won their singles matches.
Meagan McCord, and Rebecca Ledford had the two losses in singles for Republic, with McCord’s defeat coming in a tiebreaker.
In doubles, Republic took two of three matches. Hopkins and Moore won their match 8-2, and Ledford and Sandul won theirs 8-3. Republic’s only varsity doubles loss came from Minor and McCord, who lost 9-8 in a tiebreaker.
Republic’s record is 1-0.