Port Clinton tennis comes up just short vs. Bryan

PORT CLINTON — Port Clinton likes a good challenge. The Redskins opened the season Friday against a tough Bryan team that is seeded No. 4 in the northwest Ohio rankings. PC came up just short, falling 3-2 to the Golden Bears. "I just told their coach as the last match ended that we love playing them as the first match of the year," Redskins coach Joe Miller said. "We're actually two really similar programs. The better schools in northwest Ohio are Ottawa Hills and Maumee Valley Country Day. They have a lot of Toledo club kids. We both have to build our programs from scratch. "I think we have a ton of respect for Bryan and we love opening the season against them because it's a battle." Jae Mazur picked up a win for Port Clinton at second singles, knocking off Bryan's Shayla Frank 6-3, 6-3. "Jae is our best competitor," Miller said. "We scrimmaged Avon yesterday and we noticed who looked the most comfortable out there. It was Jae. She was locked in. She competes at the highest level in every single point. What an accomplishment for her to move from second doubles last year to second singles this year." Bryan tied the contest when Eden Owens took down PC's Shantha Weit at first singles 6-0, 6-2. The duo of Lilly Hatt and Maya Klimentov won at first doubles for the Redskins, topping Emma Schlade and Mya Moore 6-2, 6-2. From there, Bryan's Madison Klinepeter and Mosey Huard defeated PC's Evalee Cross and Kyla Buchman in a close one at second doubles. Klinepeter and Huard won 6-3, 6-7 (3), 10-6. "They were down 5-2 in the second set and came back to win that tiebreaker," Miller said. "Kyla jumped up from our JV lineup from last year. Evalee just joined us as a senior. She played volleyball up until this point and is a great athlete. They're only going to get better with experience this season." Mya Parker finished off the win for Bryan at third singles when she took down Port Clinton's Calli StClair 7-6 (10), 6-3. StClair had four set points in the first set, but will use it as a learning experience. "Callie is brand new to tennis," Miller said. "She played in some tournaments this summer to get started. She is very consistent. She ran into a senior who is also very, very consistent. Callie is going to win a bunch of matches for us at third singles." The Redskins are back in action Saturday when they travel to the Norwalk Invitational. Port Clinton goes right back to Norwalk on Monday for another tough match. "We haven't even done individual or team goals. I'm waiting until after the Norwalk match on Monday," Miller said. "We scrimmaged Avon, which is a big Division I school, last night. Bryan is great. Norwalk has a bunch of players back from last year. I didn't want our younger and inexperienced team to think these were tied into our goals for the season. Our goal wasn't to beat Bryan. They give us a great contest, but it's part of the process. "I can tell you in my head that the goals for this team have been exceeded so far early. Maybe we have some bigger, bigger picture goals that we didn't have at the beginning of the week." RESULTS 1st singles: Eden Owens (B) def. Shantha Weit (PC) 6-0, 6-22nd singles: Jae Mazur (PC) def. Shayla Frank (B) 6-3, 6-33rd singles: Mya Parker (B) def. Calli StClair (PC) 7-6 (10), 6-3 1st doubles: Lilly Hatt/Maya Klimentov (PC) def. Emma Schlade/Mya Moore (B) 6-2, 6-22nd doubles: Madison Klinepeter/Mosey Huard (B) def. Evalee Cross/Kyla Buchman (PC) 6-3, 6-7 (3), 10-6