Down to the last couple of weeks with the Philomath High School girls tennis program, senior Bailey Bell made a final appearance on the home courts this week and now recalibrates her focus on the upcoming district tournament.
Bell has been dominant in district matches throughout her four years with the Warriors. In fact, she’s never lost and won the high majority of those matches by 6-0, 6-0 scores.
Gallery: PHS girls tennis vs. McKay (May 8, 2024)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s girls tennis dual vs. McKay on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
“It’s a little weird that this is my last home match,” Bell said Wedneday afternoon after a nonleague match against McKay. “But I’ve definitely enjoyed it … it’s been a lot of fun.”
In all, PHS recognized six seniors prior to the McKay dual. In addition to Bell, Daniella Carlisle, Nadia Durski, Elise Reese, Megan Reese and Lorelei Schell also played their final home match.
Bell has won the district tournament’s singles title for the last three years but she could have competition this time around against Whitney Hedden, a Marist Catholic freshman.
“There’s a new girl at Marist … they might play for the league title,” Thorson said. “She’s supposed to be pretty good, they could be pretty even.”
Hedden was injured earlier this season and didn’t play in Marist’s match on April 2 against Philomath. She has a 7-1 record with her only loss coming Thursday against North Bend sophomore Raegan Farm, who finished as the state runner-up last season. Only two players this season have won games against Farm — Bell in a 6-2, 6-0 loss and Hedden in this week’s 7-5, 6-3 loss.
“I don’t know anything about the Marist girl, really, I’ve never played her before,” Bell said. “I just try and take it one match at a time, try and stay consistent and play my game — focus on the things I can control.”
Against McKay, Bell posted a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Belinda Olea.
“I love better competition — I always have a lot of fun in competitive matches,” Bell said when asked if she gets much out of the lopsided results. “But it’s a beautiful day out today so I couldn’t really ask for better weather for Senior Night.”
Philomath defeated McKay handily by an 8-0 count. Other singles winners included Adele Beckstead (6-1, 6-0), Megan Reese (6-1, 6-1) and Elise Reese (6-1, 6-1). Winning doubles matches were Carlisle and Durski (6-1, 6-2), Schell and Lucie Oster (6-2, 6-1), Clara Neville and Maggie King (6-4, 6-0) and Maggie Real and Lucy Thomas (6-3, 7-5).
Philomath finished with an overall dual record of 12-2 and finished second behind Marist Catholic in Special District 2 with a 6-1 record. The Crusaders will be favored to take next week’s district team title.
“Marist would have to mess up for us to have a chance to win,” Thorson said. “We’ll most likely be in the second position and that’s just the way it is when you’re dealing with a private school.”
Marist is a private Roman Catholic college prep school in Eugene.
“I don’t believe they should be in the same league with public schools,” Thorson said. “It’s just not the same playing field, you know. … For instance, many, many of the Marist kids — they have private memberships and that’s beyond the reach of most public schools. We have a few and that’s why we’re actually pretty good but it’s still a different ballfield.”
Beyond the Bell-Hedden showdown that could be on the horizon, The top four singles players and top four doubles teams will automatically qualify for the 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament. Beckstead has been another player with an eye on returning to state and should be seeded for districts. The Reese twins will also be in the mix for singles.
At doubles, Carlisle and Durski have gone 12-2 and will likely be seeded No. 2.
“I think they should make it to state,” Thorson said. “And my No. 2 doubles team, if they play really, really well and they get a good draw, they have a shot.”
Schell and Oster have played together at No. 2 doubles most of the season and compiled a 9-3 record.
After this final season of tennis wraps up and seniors collect diplomas at next month’s graduation ceremony, Bell will further her education at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.
“The plan right now is to do both tennis and soccer,” Bell said. “I really love their campus, it’s beautiful, and I really like the small class sizes … and the opportunity to play sports there.”
Bell started to consider Whitman through a family connection.
“My mom went there so that’s how I first found out about it,” she said. “But then the soccer coaches and I established relationships and they’ve been super good to me.”
Whitman competes at the NCAA Division III level. Academically, Bell plans to have a combined science major in biophysics, biochemistry and molecular biology.
The ride at Philomath has been a fun one.
“Winning districts is always really fun because everyone on the team contributes,” Bell replied when asked to share her favorite memories of the last four years. “But a personal highlight for me definitely is getting third at state last year.”
Perhaps another favorite memory will emerge over the next couple of weeks.
