High school girls tennis: Kennett wins SEMO title yet again

CAPE GIRARDEAU — The Kennett High School girls tennis team captured its fourth consecutive Southeast Missouri Conference tournament title Friday.

The Indians compiled 22.5 points, which was 3.5 points more than second-place Jackson. Cape Notre Dame Regional finished a distant third (13).

Senior Christi Tejeda was the singles champion while teammates Claire Bean (Holcomb) and Handley McAtee were the doubles winners.

Kennett senior Christi Tejeda was unseeded before the start of the Southeast Missouri Conference tournament on Friday, Sept. 22. Tejeda was unfazed, and eventually beat the top seed for the singles championship. (Photo submitted by Laurie McAtee)

Tejeda defeated Poplar Bluff’s Kaitlyn Booker in the championship match.

Booker was the No. 1 seeded player while Tejeda was unseeded entering the tournament, making victory all the sweeter. She won by scores of 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 10-3 (tie-breaker).

Bean and McAtee defeated Ava Nipper and Bailey Rees from Jackson 6-1, 6-0 for the crown. Results went according to the seeds since Bean and McAtee were top-seeded entering play.

The doubles team of Jady Quinn and Emory Kamper reached the quarterfinals of the draw. Booker defeated Kennett’s Olivia Rebstock 6-2, 6-0 in the opening round of singles play.

INFORMATION

GIRLS TENNIS

SEMO Conference

Tournament

At Cape Girardeau

Team Scores

1, Kennett, 22.5, 2, Jackson, 19; Cape Notre Dame, 13; 4, Poplar Bluff, 10.5; 5, Dexter, 9.5; 6, Charleston, 2.5; 7, Caruthersville, 2