4 flight championships help Bucs capture O-K Red

Mon, May 12, 2008    to del.icio.us

The Buccaneers' girls tennis team capped off its improbable run toward an O-K Red Conference championship by winning the league tournament Saturday at Jenison.

The victory gave Grand Haven the outright conference title, the first for the program since 2005.

After going 6-0-1 in O-K Red dual meets this spring, the Bucs won four flight championships Saturday and finished runner-up in two other flights.

"Today was a total team effort," coach Kevin Polston said. "Every flight played with the heart of a champion and competed at their highest level. There were a lot of close matches, but our girls believe in themselves very strongly and it shows."

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The Bucs had five matches go to a third set, and they won all five.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise Saturday was the play of sophomore Robyn Power at No. 1 singles. Power, the No. 4 seed, started with a 6-1, 6-3 win over West Ottawa's Kristi Wu. She then upset the top seed, Maria Tran of East Kentwood, 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-3. That bumped Power into the finals, where she knocked off the No. 2 seed, Rockford's Kristi Hagyard, 6-3, 6-0.

"She has steadily improved throughout the season and it is all coming together," Polston said. "She had to play through some tough spots, and certainly some tough players, but she embraced the challenge and is now reaping the rewards."

Grand Haven also won at No. 2 singles, where top-seeded Audrey Schultz, a senior, held her seed, winning a pair of three-setters along the way, including a 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 win over Rockford's Holly Roelofs in the final. Schultz also won a league title at second singles last year.

"She did not play her best tennis today, and was actually down three match points in the final before rallying to win in three sets," Polston said.

A third conference title came at No. 4 singles, where freshman Gina Kukulski continued her stellar season by cruising through the bracket, beating Hudsonville's Ali Powell in the final match, 6-3, 6-1.

"Gina has the best record on the team and has repeatedly shown how strong of a player she is," Polston said. "This is a very impressive result for a freshman."

Grand Haven also won at No. 3 doubles, where top-seeded Bree Smolen and Audrey Austin breezed through their bracket, beating West Ottawa's Ashley Besinger and Megan Anderson in the final, 6-3, 6-4.

"Bree and Audrey exemplified what doubles is all about, playing together as a team with great energy," Polston said. "They each have their strengths that compliment each other, and together they are one of the best third doubles in the state."

The Bucs' Jackie Kukulski, the top seed at No. 3 singles, reached the finals before suffering a 6-4, 7-6 (5) loss to Hudsonville's Leah Labarge.

Josie Birkett and Mallory Smith reached the final at No. 2 doubles before losing to West Ottawa, 6-3, 6-4.

The Buccaneers will look to keep their dream season alive later this week as they compete in the Division 1 regional meet Thursday at Holland.