Lady Hornets tennis team dominates singles, downs Mexico

MEXICO - The Fulton Lady Hornets tennis team, paced by senior Jessica Klutts, swept singles play Tuesday night in starting its season with a 9-3 North Central Missouri Conference victory over rival Mexico.

Fulton dropped the first three doubles matches, but picked up forfeit wins in the last three contests because Mexico only has seven players on its roster.

"We were a little shaky," Lady Hornets head coach Louis Schnoebelen said. "The first match is always a little tough, but the girls worked it out and pulled it out in the end."

Klutts - Fulton's No. 1 singles player - toppled Mexico's Liesel Walser 10-8.

Here are the rest of Tuesday night's singles and doubles results:

•No. 2 singles: sophomore Suzie Whitmar (F) defeated Caroline Fink (M) 10-7; No. 3: senior Emily Whitmar (F) def. Kaitlyn Brooks (M) 10-8; No. 4: senior Ashley West (F) def. Aaliyah Shivers (M) 10-8; No. 5: senior Ashlee Thompson (F) def. Mandita Thapar (M) 10-6; No. 6: junior Emily Barbour (F) def. Cassie Early (M) 10-0.

•No. 1 doubles: Walser/Fink (M) def. senior Caley Brown/sophomore Michelle Moore (F) 10-1; No. 2: Brooks/Shivers (M) def. freshman Laurel Royer/senior Chelsea Smith (F) 10-2; No. 3: Thapar/Mutcha Pongsuea (M) def. senior Coley Bandy/sophomore Danyiell Lee (F) 10-3; Nos. 4, 5 and 6: Fulton won by forfeit.

"Every time we go out, hopefully we can learn something that we can take into our next match," Schnoebelen said.

The Lady Hornets play their home opener against NCMC foe Hannibal at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the high school athletic complex.

"Hannibal will be solid," Schnoebelen said. "It's always a pretty big test."

South Callaway softball...18

Hermann............................0

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.