The Houston tennis team needed one more point to win its home opener.
The Tigers won two of the three doubles matches in last Thursday’s meeting with Mountain Grove. But with just two singles victories, HHS fell just short in a 5-4 home loss.
Siblings Lucas and Sarah Kelley had an 8-6 doubles win and the team of Grady Todd and Yuka Katogi were victorious 8-4. Houston’s singles wins were provided by Todd (8-6) and Trenton Smith (8-6).
In the other singles matches, Sarah Kelley lost a close 9-8 (5) decision. Lucas Kelley was defeated 8-6, Celina Castleman lost 8-4 and Katogi was blanked 8-0.
Castleman and Smith lost the other doubles match 8-3.
Two days earlier, Houston lost 9-0 at Salem.
The Tigers’ closest call was Katogi’s 9-8 (4) defeat at No. 4 singles. Todd and Sarah Kelley both had 8-4 losses.
Lucas Kelley lost his match 8-1 while Castleman and Smith were both defeated 8-0.
In doubles play, the Kelleys and Katogi and Todd both lost 8-3. Smith and Castleman were beated 8-0.
JUNIOR VARSITY: Lucas Kelley and Celina Castleman teamed up for a 6-2 win in JV action last Tuesday at Salem.
In the other JV doubles matches, Darby Bell and Katogi lost a 7-6 (2) decision while the teams of Todd and Caroline Dill and Smith and Marley Stoops were defeated 6-2.
In the lone JV singles match, Stoops was defeated 6-2.
Houston’s Grady Todd returns a shot during his singles match last Thursday against Mountain Grove. Todd won 8-4.