Dexter tennis off to perfect start following shutout of 'Dogs

Veteran Dexter High School girl's tennis coach Kristi Boles watches a Bearcat player train during a summer workout at the school.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

In each of the previous two girl’s tennis seasons, the Dexter High School varsity squad has won just five matches.

That number is in jeopardy already this fall, as the Bearcats have opened their season with three consecutive victories for the first time in six seasons.

Dexter began the year by beating Charleston 9-0 and followed that dominating win by topping Cape Central 6-3.

The Bearcats remained unbeaten on Thursday by topping Sikeston 9-0.

“We have a good group, a core group of seniors,” Bearcat coach Kristi Boles said of her team during the preseason. “I think our leadership is our core strength right now.”

Against the Bluejays, senior Febe Worley took the No. 1 singles match over De’Ziyah Hamilton 8-2 while senior Sophia James won the No. 2 singles match over Amelia Logan 8-4.

In the No. 3 singles match, Dexter senior Puja Maisuria got past Vandrayia Biles 8-2.

Kinley Kennedy won the No. 4 singles match over De’Ava Hamilton 8-2 while Sera Churchill (No. 5 singles) beat Katrice Brown 8-2 and Jalynn Proffer (No. 6 singles) topped Ja’Miya Hedge (8-1).

In doubles action, Worley and Maisuria beat the two Hamiltons 8-0 in the top doubles match while James and Kennedy got past Logan and Biles 8-1, and Churchill and Blair Medley beat Brown and Hedge 8-1.

Against the Tigers, Worley beat Liliana Dubs 8-2 in the top singles match while James fell to Brenna Dunuvan 6-8 in the No. 2 singles match.

Maisuria beat Aubrey Walker 8-2 in the No. 3 singles match while Kennedy beat Zea Grabel 8-4 in the No. 3 singles match.

Churchill topped Nicole Sadler 8-3 in the No. 5 singles match while Cape’s Addison Pate beat Proffer 8-4.

Worley and Maisuria fell to Dubs and Dunuvan 8-5 while James and Kennedy beat Walker and Sadler 8-6.

In the No. 3 doubles match, Churchill and Medley got past Grabel and Pate 8-5.

Against the Bulldogs, Worley took care of Kinsley Brandon 8-4 in the No. 1 singles match while James beat Ruby Sullivan (No. 2 singles) 8-6.

Maisuria topped Cheyenne Parker 8-4 in No. 3 singles play while Kennedy beat Juliet Collins (No. 4 singles) 8-3.

Churchill won the No. 5 singles match 8-4 over Selah Torres while Proffer took the No. 6 singles match over Alannah Jones 8-1.

Worley and Maisuria claimed the top doubles match 8-2 over Brandon and Sullivan while James and Kennedy beat Parker and Collins 8-1.

Churchill and Medley won the No. 3 doubles match 8-3 over Torres and Jones.

Dexter will travel to Kennett today to play in the Kennett/Holcomb Invitational while Sikeston (1-4-1) will host the Sikeston Invitational AT Charleston on Sept. 12 at 9 a.m.

Cape Central (0-7) will host Festus (0-1) on Monday at 4:30 p.m. while Charleston (0-2) will host Notre Dame (1-2) on Tuesday at 4 p.m.