Oakville's Abby Bergman Captures Conference Tennis Championship

Oakville sophomore Abby Bergman had the team's best record entering the "C" Flight of the Suburban South/West Conference Tennis Tournament.

Bergman had a 7-2 record and lived up to the top billing by winning the No. 4 singles flight of the tournament which had a four singles-three doubles format.

Bergman defeated Katelyn Freund of Lindbergh in the championship match Tuesday, 7-6, 6-2. She was the only Tiger champion in the tournament.

Two other Tiger singles players reached the finals which also included Eureka, Lindbergh and Parkway North.

Freshman Emily Bartz-Mills lost at No. 1 singles to Abby Hoffmann of Eureka, 6-4, 6-3 while senior Holly Sanazaro fell to Katie Bauer of Eureka 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.

The Tigers also had a pair of third place finishes with Niki Hudacek at No. 2 singles and Allison Bay and Carley Lanfersieck at No. 2 doubles.

The singles play has been solid throughout the season for Tigers, who are 5-4 in dual matches.

Bartz-Mills has taken her lumps at the No. 1 spot with only a pair of wins.

"You play a lot of very good players at No. 1 and Emily is handling it well," Oakville coach Linda Gebauer said. "She is going to be really good by the time she finishes her high school career."

Hudacek and Sanazaro, who are both seniors, are playing well. Hudacek was 6-3 at No. 2 singles while Sanazaro was 4-2 at No. 3 singles.

The team has struggled though in doubles.

"We have had to use a lot of combinations with girls out with illness or injury," Gebauer said. "We have moved some singles players in and out and just have not gotten the job done. We lost a super tiebreaker yesterday 17-15. It has been that kind of year."

Oakville and Mehlville both got a look at some of its district competition last weekend as Poplar Bluff and Jackson traveled north.

Oakville and Mehlville each defeated Poplar Bluff by identical 6-3 scores (with a six singles-three doubles format). Jackson defeated Oakville 6-3 and Mehlville 7-2.

"Jackson is the defending champion and will be the favorite this year," Gebauer said. "But we played right with them. One of our doubles matches finished in an 8-6 Jackson win (in an eight-game pro set)."

Oakville and Mehlville are scheduled to play each other Thursday. That match will be played on the clay at the Highlands Golf and Tennis Center in Forest Park.