Rain, rain go away

The weather perhaps cost William Chrisman a girls tennis victory.
The Bears won two of the three doubles matches and were leading in three of the six singles tests when lighting and rain Thursday at hot and humid Santa Fe Trail Park forced the teams to head for the busses and go home.
Because the Truman varsity team was practicing on the upper courts the six lower courts were used for the junior varsity and varsity doubles matches. Usually, the six singles junior varsity and varsity matches are played first.
Junior twins Ashton Phillips and Alyson Phillips teamed up for an easy 10-2 victory over Sarah Kent and Whitney Wright, giving the Bears an early 1-0 lead.
“We enjoy playing together,” said Alyson Phillips. “Sometimes we get mad at one another, but it’s fun. My backhand needs work, but overall I was happy with my play.”
Ashton Phillips said she played pretty well, too.
“I am working on my serve,” she said.
Kent and Wright were not pleased with the loss.
“I was very upset,” Wright said. “It was not a good day. It was hot but that is no excuse. It was just my fault.”
Kent said she was attempting to work on her ground angles.
“I am ready for the next match,” she said.
The Bears’ Kendyl Laughlin and Whitney Croucher followed with a No. 2 10-4 doubles win over the team of Bianca Bowen and Brittney Bowen.
“I had a shaky start,” Laughlin said. “Then I got it together, “I am just trying to hit a good shot.”
Fort Osage posted its first win when the No. 3 doubles team of Miranda Baker and Shannon Hurt bested Maryanne Hamburg and Bethany Bayne 10-8.
Then about 30 minutes later the weather halted matters.
“I was very impressed with my varsity,” Chrisman coach Kim Leibhardt said. “I was happy they stepped up as well as they did in doubles. I am hoping they continue to do that in singles as well.”
Fort Osage was coming off a 7-2 season-opening loss to Lee’s Summit Wednesday.
“I see some improvements from them,” Fort Osage coach Jordan Groves said.
No date has been set to finish the match.
“But we will finish it,” Leibhart said.