Huron set to open play in state tournament

Early start slated today in Rapid City due to inclement weather forecast

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RAPID CITY — The season-ending event for the Huron girls’ tennis team will have an earlier start than originally scheduled.
Instead of starting Thursday and running through Saturday at the 2018 Girls’ State Tennis Tournament is now slated to begin at 3 p.m. Today and continue through Saturday in anticipation of some inclement weather conditions in Rapid City that could wreak havoc with the original schedule.
Huron coach Rachel Kary is looking forward to seeing how her young team fares in the final event of the season.
“It is always such a fun tournament, with some great tennis being played,” she said. “I think we are all hoping things go a little better for us than they did at the Eastern South Dakota Conference Tournament. The girls’ are fired up and ready to play.”
The Tigers’ roster for the state tournament will include three sophomores, two freshman and a pair of eighth-graders.

Sophomores Kayla Harvey and Audrey Rubish have compiled the most wins this season for Huron in the No. 1 and 2 singles positions, respectively. The pair also fills the No. 1 doubles spot in the roster for the Tigers.
Harvey has went 9-15 this season in the top singles flight, while Rubish has compiled a 10-15 record this season in No. 2 singles. The duo has eight wins in 23 doubles outings this season.
“I think they both have the opportunity to do very well in singles and doubles,” Kary said of her top two players. “They have had singles and doubles matches throughout the season that have been so close and could have easily gone their way. I am hopeful it goes our way at state!”
Wins have been a bit harder to come by for the other four singles players in the Huron lineup, but Kary is encouraged with what she has seen leading up to the state tournament.
“I have seen so much improvement from the start of the season to today. All of the girls have experienced some wins throughout the season, which has given them more confidence going into matches,” she said. “My hope is they play how I know they can play, stay focused and have fun!”
Eighth-grader Bethany Engelhart has five wins this season in 25 matches at No. 4 singles, while sophomore Htee Say is 4-21 at No. 6 singles. Freshman Madelynn Lord is 2-21 at No. 5 singles, and freshman Eh Ter Ler Hae is 1-13 at No. 3 singles.
In doubles, Say teamed with eighth-grader Bianca Medina to go 3-20 at No. 3, while Engelhart and Lord went winless in 23 matches at No. 2 doubles.
“We are such a young team, so I view this as a great opportunity to gain some good experience on the tennis court,” Kary said of her team’s focus heading into the state tournament. “With that being said, I am hopeful that we can get some wins on the board and experience some success at the state tournament as well.”
The top three singles flights will play first and second round matches today at Sioux Park, while the No. 4-6 flights will play first and secound round matches today at Parkview Courts. The schedule for Thursday’s matches will be discussed during a coaches’ meeting slated today before the start of competition.