Free State’s Wang, doubles team of Loewen-Luina claim league titles

? Emily Loewen and Lacey Luina were as relaxed as possible as they watched the semifinal doubles match at Monday’s Sunflower League tournament.

Teams from Lawrence High and Shawnee Mission East were deadlocked at one set each and were playing a tie-breaking third set; the winner would face Loewen and Luina. The Free State seniors, fresh off trouncing Shawnee Mission West, 6-1, 6-0, decided it didn’t matter who they played.

They were right. It didn’t matter.

The Firebirds’ No. 1 doubles team beat the Lancers, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, earning their second straight league title

“I’m glad we got to play them” Loewen said. “They played real aggressive, more aggressive than any team we’ve played all year. It took a little while to adjust to that.”

FSHS coach Jon Renberger agreed, adding that the matchup gave his team a chance to hone its skills heading into next week’s regional tournament.

“We don’t get to play many matches two out of three,” Renberger said. “This experience is hopefully something that will improve their play down the line.”

Free State senior Emily Wang added a title at No. 1 singles, dispatching SM East’s Jen Brake, 6-0, 6-0. However, the Lancers did beat Free State when it came to the team title, ending the Firebirds’ three-year reign as Sunflower League champs.

The Lancers qualified for every finals event, something Renberger thought would difficult to overcome.

“When you come up against a team that makes the finals in every single division, that’s to their credit,” Renberger said. “I knew they were the deeper team, and I think with us winning it the last three years, they were really motivated.”

Lawrence High, behind third-place finishes from their No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams, placed sixth, just one point behind Olathe East and Olathe South.

The Lions No. 1 team of Abby and Sara Olson rebounded from the loss against SM East by beating Ariel Brody and Elizabeth Kurien of Shawnee Mission Northwest, 6-4, 6-4. The sisters had a shot at playing Free State for the title, but couldn’t overcome the Lancers’ aggressiveness at the net, something LHS coach Dick Wedel says they’ll have to improve on before regionals.

“I want to see them attack the ball with their feet,” Wedel said. “What I mean by that is stepping to the ball, don’t let the ball play you. Attack the ball and stay active.”

At No. 2, the LHS twosome of Becca Fritzel and Sydney Lartigue narrowly missed a trip to the finals, losing to Liz Clemmens and Elizabeth Simmons of SM East, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4. The Lions ended up beating Free State’s No. 2 team of Ellie Ott and Brenna Spurgeon, 6-0, 6-2 for third place.

Wang, the state’s top-ranked player and the defending state champ, was marvelous on Tuesday, never dropping a game. It was her third No. 1 singles title and fourth overall Wang won the No. 2 singles title as a freshman making her undefeated at the league tournament.

“You always try to not lose a game,” Wang said. “I try to focus the same on every match. Some days you’re really on, other days you struggle.”