SIOUX FALLS — Kayla Harvey will be playing for the consolation champion in third-flight singles for the Huron Tigers today at the 2017 State Tennis Tournament in Sioux Falls.
Harvey won her opening match with a 10-1 victory against Mia Cramer of Lennox, before being edged 10-8 by Sierra Hauf of Spearfish in the second round.
Harvey rebounded from the setback with three straight wins to reach the consolation title match. She defeated Sydney Dixen of Sioux Falls Washington 8-2 in the consolation quarterfinals and then used the same score to get past Abby Hanson of Aberdeen Roncalli in the consolation semifinals.
“She fell a little short yesterday to get into the quarterfinals, but I was pleased with the way she was able to rebound from that match and come back and beat two opponents to earn this spot,” Huron coach Leah Branaugh said of Harvey.
Harvey was the only player to win a singles match for the Tigers, but Branaugh said she liked what she saw out of the rest of her young team at the tournament.
The girls played well both days in both singles and doubles. Tennis is one of those sports where the score doesn’t always reflect how competitive the matches actually are,” she said. “The girls overall were able to learn from this experience and now know what gains they need to make this winter and next summer to turn some of these matches around.”
Abby Thomas provided a challenge for her opponent in No. 4 singles during the opening round, while Megan Clark pushed for the win in her consolation match at No. 2 singles for Huron.
“Abby Thomas also played a great match on the consolation side for singles. The score was 8-0, but she was playing aggressive and really hitting the ball,” Branaugh said. “She was able to extend points and I felt her level of tennis was so much higher than it had been all season.
“Megan Clark had a close match today as well,” she said. “She came up short against an opponent that she had previously beaten, but she was able to get more first serves in today and really use it as a weapon.”
The Tigers came up winless in the doubles competition at the state tournament.
“Audrey (Rubish) and Kayla played an outstanding doubles match against Watertown and fell short,” Branaugh said. “I felt it was their best match of the season and I was so pleased how they ended their season together.”
Jaycee Clark and Madelynn Lord represented the Tigers at No. 5 and 6 singles, respectively, and combined to compete in No. 3 doubles.
“Madelynn and Jaycee played well also,” Branaugh said. “Their skills have improved as the season has gone on.”

Singles
Flight 1

First round: Allison Eichacker, SFR, def. Audrey Rubish, H, 10-1
Consolation round 2: Peyton Forney, RCS, def. Audrey Rubish, H, 8-1
Flight 2
First round: Josie Smith, SFR, def. Megan Clark, H, 10-1
Consolation round 2: Paige Wagner, RCH, def. Megan Clark, H, 8-4
Flight 3
First round: Kayla Harvey, H, def. Mia Cramer, L, 10-1
Championship round 2: Sierra Hauf, SP, def. Kayla Harvey, H, 10-8
Consolation quarterfinals: Kayla Harvey, H, def. Sydney Dixen, SFW, 8-2
Consolation semifinals: Kayla Harvey, H, def. Abby Hanson, ABR, 8-2
Flight 4
First round: Maddie Binder, Y, def. Abby Thomas, H, 10-6
Consolation round 2: Mya Maxwell, Mad, def. Abby Thomas, H, 8-2
Flight 5
First round: Hannah Hatch, HAR, def. Jaycee Clark, HUR, 10-2
Consolation round 2: Payton Tramp, Y, def. Jaycee Clark, 8-2
Flight 6
First round: Saylor Ness, B, def. Madelynn Lord, H, 10-1
Consolation round 2: Marie Pelletier, BV, def. Madelynn Lord, H, 8-0

Doubles
Flight 1
First round: Wray/Graham, Mad, def. Rubish/Harvey, H, 10-0
Consolation round 2: Cummings/McClemans, W, def. Rubish/Harvey, H, 8-2
Flight 2
First round: Lundberg/Schultz, BV, def. M. Clark/Thomas, H, 10-3
Consolation round 2: Tennant/Papstein, Y, def. M. Clark/Thomas, H, 8-3
Flight 3
First round: Schultz/Kintz, P, def. J. Clark/Lord, H, 10-1
Consolation round 2: Binder/Becker, Y, def. J. Clark/Lord, H, 8-0
Team scores after Day 2
1, Lincoln, 530; 2, O'Gorman, 435; 3, R.C. Stevens 433; 4, Mitchell, 376.5; 5, Watertown, 345; 6, Pierre, 294; 7, Spearfish, 252; 8, St. Thomas More, 229; 9, Harrisburg, 223.5;  10, Yankton, 210.5; 11, Brandon Valley, 193; 12, Aberdeen Central, 182.5; 13, Washington, 156; 14, Roosevelt, 139; 15, Madison, 115; 16, Aberdeen Roncalli, 87; 17, R.C. Central, 66; 18, R.C. Christian, 66; 19, Milbank, 43; 20, Huron, 23; 21, Lennox 0.