For the first and only time this season, Free State High girls tennis played host to an event. The Firebirds made the most of it, winning all nine of their matches against Roeland Park Miege on Tuesday.

“The girls were very excited and pumped up to play well in front of friends and family,” Free State coach Jon Renberger said. “To perform well and be successful, it just makes for a great day.”

Senior Julia Guard led the Firebirds, allowing just three points en route to an 8-0 victory in her singles match.

“It was probably the best singles match that I have played in a while,” Guard, the Firebirds second-ranked player, said. “I wanted to come and give everyone a good show.”

Guard did that, easily disposing of her opponent, Mirna Mendoza, by aggressively attacking the net and forcing errors from Mendoza.

With the 9-0 team victory, the Firebirds improved to 6-0-1, and the shutout showed the Firebirds’ depth.

“The successful end results are taking care of themselves, and we are playing hard,” Renberger said. “My philosophy that I really emphasize is for them to attack, to get to the net on every short ball and to be very aggressive in every match.”

Free State High senior Julia Guard sends back a return. Guard and teammate Leigh Luina won their doubles match as the Firebirds swept Roeland Park Miege on Tuesday at Free State.

The team’s top player, senior Leigh Luina, settled down after a shaky outing in her 8-5 doubles victory and won her singles match, 8-2, over Renee Shultz.

Luina broke Shultz’s serve during the sixth game and did not look back from there, winning the next four points for the victory. Luina used a strong serve and a solid forehand to force Shultz into difficult returns, thanks to being left handed.

“She is able to spin it in at a different angle than right handed players are accustomed to,” Renberger said. “She can really punish the back hand of her right-handed opponent. She is an intelligent player. She knows how to attack opponents and to make them hit uncomfortable shots.”

Luina and Guard recovered after leading by just a point midway through their doubles match against Shultz and Mirna Mendoza. Luina and Guard complimented each other well, with Luina showcasing her serve and aggressive play.

“She hits the winners, and I keep the consistency,” Guard said of their playing style. “We do the opposites-attract kind of thing.”

Guard showed her touch, getting winners down the line to help them break service in the final game for the match.

“They have aspirations of qualifying for the 5A state tournament, so that was a good win for them,” Renberger said of Roeland Park Miege’s top doubles team. “This couldn’t have been a better day than it was.”

Free State High's Leigh Luina returns a volley.

As Luina was leaving the courts to head for home after her victory, Renberger gave her one piece of advice.

“Get plenty of sleep,” Renberger said.

He knows how important his teams top player is, especially when the Firebirds will play their third match in three days today. Free State will make up a match against Hiawatha that was rained out on Sept. 9.

“It is exciting because I want to do as much as I can since I can’t do it again next year,” Luina said of playing tennis.

Team Results: Free State 9, Roeland Park Miege 0

Singles: Leigh Luina def. Renee Shultz 8-2. Julia Guard def. Mirna Mendoza 8-0. Molly Tyler def. Carly Hicks 8-2. Holly Maygers def. Katie Pragg 8-5. Maggie Hull def. Stefanie Penn 8-2. Becca Sheldon-Sherman def. Mary Fuggle 8-2.

Doubles: Luina and Guard def. Schultz and Mendoza 8-5. Tyler and Maygers def. Hicks and Pragg 8-2. Hull and Rosie Hull def. Penn and Tuggle 8-0.