Fairfield boys slip past Chiefs; girls fall in Keokuk

Fairfield?s Alexander Punj concluded the regular season undefeated in singles play, and the boys? tennis team topped Keokuk by the narrowest of margins Thursday at FMS courts.

Unlike the two teams? first meeting in Keokuk, the rain held off just long enough for Fairfield to claim a 5-4 victory.

With the meet win, the Trojans finish the regular season with a 6-2-2 record. Their record in the Southeast Conference stands at 4-1-1.

Punj, a freshman, improved his varsity record to 10-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Dan Williams.

Newcomer and junior Sean Soupiset won in singles action as well to improve to 9-1 on the season. The No. 2 player made quick work of Gabe Vandenberg to win 6-3, 6-1.

Seniors Matt Burnstedt and Matt McCan were victorious at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively. Burnstedt again fought through a close match to top Keokuk?s Jacob Mitchell 6-3, 7-6. McCan?s win mirrored Soupiset and Punj?s in terms of dominance, as he won 6-1, 6-1 over Louis Reisberg.

Fairfield led 4-2 after singles action and needed just one doubles victory to clinch the match. They got the meet-winner in No. 1 doubles action, where Punj and Soupiset dropped Williams and Vandenberg by the final score of 6-4, 6-0.

The Trojans? No. 2 doubles team fell, and the No. 3 team lost via super tiebreaker after winning the first set 6-0.

The Trojans will look to continue their late season roll when they travel to Fort Madison for the Southeast Conference meet Monday.

Fairfield vs. Keokuk

Singles

1. Punj (FF) def. Williams (K) 6-2, 6-0

2. Soupiset (FF) def. Vandenberg (K) 6-3, 6-1

3. Barclift (K) def. Thorn (FF) 6-1, 6-3

4. Clark (K) def. Price (FF) 6-2, 7-5

5. Burnstedt (FF) def. Mitchell (K) 6-3, 7-6 (2)

6. McCan (FF) def. Reisberg (K) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

1. Punj/Soupiset (FF) def. Williams/Vandenberg (K) 6-4, 6-0

2. Barclift/Clark (K) def. Thorn/Price (FF) 6-1, 6-3

3. Mitchell/Reisberg (K) def. Burnstedt/McCan (FF) 0-6, 7-5, 10-8

Girls fall to Chiefs

KEOKUK ? The Fairfield girls? tennis squad was handed its first conference loss of the season Thursday at Keokuk.

The Trojans dropped two matches via tiebreaker in a 6-3 loss to the host Chiefs.

Singles wins for Fairfield came from No. 4 Megan Palmer and Karley Williams at No. 6. Palmer defeated Keokuk?s Marissa Hasselbusch 8-0, and Williams continued her strong play at the back of the lineup with an 8-1 win over Priya Khanolkar.

Williams added on a victory in No. 3 doubles, where she and Kim O?Carroll won 8-3.

Fairfield?s Devin Maynard and Rachel Hathaway both posted 4-0 wins in JV singles action.

Fairfield ends the regular season at 8-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play. They travel to Keokuk for the conference meet Monday.

Fairfield @ Keokuk

Singles

1. Kite (K) def. Clements (FF) 9-8 (7-2)

2. Schulte (K) def. Gilpin (FF) 8-3

3. Bitting (K) def. Higdon (FF) 9-8 (7-3)

4. Palmer (FF) def. Hasselbusch (K) 8-0

5. Boltz (K) def. O?Carroll (FF) 8-1

6. Williams (FF) def. Khanolkar (K) 8-1

Doubles

1. Kite/Schulte (K) def. Clements/Gilpin (FF) 8-2

2. Bitting/Hasselbusch (K) def. Higdon/Palmer (FF) 8-1

3. O?Carroll/Williams (FF) def. Boltz/Khanolkar (K) 8-3