Dexter's Kennedy plays with confidence despite team rout by area power

Dexter High School senior Kinley Kennedy returns a shot against Farmington on Monday at Dexter High School. Kennedy was the lone victor for the Bearcats against unbeaten Kennett with Holcomb on Tuesday, as she won the No. 4 singles match.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

Managing to upset Bootheel-area girl’s tennis power Kennett with Holcomb is a very tall task to ask of any high school squad. The Indians have only lost two matches since the 2020 season (not a typo).

The story was the same earlier this week when Dexter ventured South to battle Kennett and fell 8-1.

“We sometimes go down feeling beat before we ever get there,” veteran Bearcat coach Kristi Boles said. “I am hoping others start believing in themselves and follow in (Kinley Kennedy’s) footsteps next time we play them.”

Kennedy won the No. 4 singles match 8-1 over Jady Quinn.

“I was super proud of Kinley Kennedy for getting our one win,” Boles said. “I feel like we are better than we played, but I did see some great rallies going on.”

Dexter (3-2) opened the season with three consecutive victories before dropping a tight match against Farmington 5-4 on Monday before facing Kennett with Holcomb on Tuesday.

“We have played every school day since last Tuesday,” Boles said. “Hopefully (Thursday and today) we will get some good practice in.”

The Bearcats’ harried schedule continues next week, as they have home matches on Monday against Poplar Bluff (2-1) and Tuesday against Saxony Lutheran, which has won all seven of its matches, thus far.

Dexter will travel to Arcadia Valley (4-2) on Wednesday. Each of the matches starts at 4 p.m.

Against Kennett with Holcomb, Dexter’s No. 1 singles player, senior Febe Worley fell 8-0 to Claire Bean while Handley McAtee topped Bearcat senior Sophia James 8-0 in the No. 2 singles match.

Dexter senior Puja Maisuria lost 8-0 to Olivia Rebstock in the No. 3 singles match, and Dexter’s Sera Churchill lost 8-2 in the No. 5 singles match to Emory Kamper.

Bearcat No. 6 singles player, Jalynn Proffer dropped her match to Lydia Teeter 8-4.

In doubles action, Worley and Maisuria fell to Bean and McAtee 8-0 in the No. 1 match while James and Kennedy dropped an 8-2 decision to Rebstock and Kamper in the No. 2 match.

Churchill and Blair Medley fell 8-2 in the No. 3 match to Quinn and Teeter.

Kennett with Holcomb (7-0-1) will visit Notre Dame (4-5-1) on Tuesday at 4 p.m.