Coach Chris Belknap’s first season in charge of the girls tennis team at Iola High was a major success. The Fillies concluded their season at the state tournament in Winfield last weekend.
Three Fillies advanced to the state, including No. 1 singles Carlie Payne, and the No. 2 doubles pair of Allie Utley and Gabby Richards.
Payne bowed out of the tournament after losing both of her matches. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic season for Payne. Having played doubles the majority of her career, Payne switched to singles action. Clearly a trip to state showcased the hard work she put in the off-season.
Utley and Richards earned a win in their opening match, but lost in the second round. The pair repeated the pattern once more, winning their third match, but falling short in their quest for fifth place. Like Payne, the pair wanted to reach state in their senior seasons, and made the most of it.
The Fillies’ final score as a team was two points, and Iola was unable to place as a team at the state venture.
Tennis at Iola will not be in action until the boys season which begins in the spring. Belknap will not head the boy’s team, although he expressed earlier in the season he’d be willing if ever called upon.
