STC sophomore Cate Hardon competes at #4 singles against Mount Vernon. PHOTOS BY STEVE BEARDEN

The girls tennis team once again had the honor of officially opening up STC athletic competition this fall when they traveled to Mount Vernon on Tuesday, Aug. 11. After waiting through a three-hour rain delay, the Trojans dropped the contest to their in-conference competitor, 9-0.

Playing #1 singles for STC was senior Mady Boriskey. Boriskey faced the Mustang’s top player, sophomore Stella Dvorak, who took the match against Boriskey, 8-0. In the #2 singles spot for the Trojans was junior Ava Boldt. Boldt fell in her contest, 8-0, against junior Emily Schnoor.

Junior Presley Vest, playing at #3 singles for the Trojans, won three games against senior Avery Thurn of Mount Vernon. But Thurn was able to pull away for a 8-3 victory.

STC sophomore Cate Hardon (#4 singles), sophomore Kendra Svacina (#5 singles), and freshman Bralynn Rohrs (#6 singles) also dropped their season-opening matches. However, after the match, Trojan head coach Steve Bearden noted the efforts of Svacina and Rohrs, who stepped into varsity play due to STC being missing two of their normal varsity competitors. Both fought to complete close matches: Svacina falling, 8-3, and Rohrs, 8-5.

In doubles play, Bearden entered Boriskey and Boldt into his #1 position. Taking on Mount Vernon’s Dvorak and Schnoor, the Trojans fought hard but fell, 8-1.

STC senior Mady Boriskey competes with junior Ava Boldt at #1 doubles against Mount Vernon.

“Mady and Ava played a cerebral game,” Bearden noted afterwards. “They proved that they can find success as the season progresses.”

In the #2 doubles spot, STC’s Vest paired up with Svacina and fell, 8-4. Hardon and Rohrs played at #3 doubles for the Trojans and dropped their match, 8-1.

Up next for the girls tennis team is a trip to Nevada on Monday, Aug. 24, to matchup against the Cubs. After that, they will travel to Grinnell on Thursday, Aug. 27, to face the Tigers. The next home contest for STC will be on Tuesday, Sept. 1, when they take on Union. Competition is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at the STC high school tennis courts.