Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Fayetteville girls ease past Har-Ber
SPRINGDALE — Mary Houston begins her senior season with a primary goal in mind.
Houston’s quest is to win another state championship and complete her career as a three-time state champion in girls singles tennis. She took an early step toward that goal Monday while leading the Fayetteville girls to a 6-3 victory over Springdale Har-Ber Monday in 6A-West Conference play on the Har-Ber courts.
Houston won her No. 1 singles match 8-0 over Maree Claire Kees from Har-Ber.
“I put a lot of balls on the court,” said Houston, who played doubles as a freshman at Fayetteville. “I waited until she missed, then I was pretty aggressive putting some balls on the court.”
Houston prepared for her senior season by playing a lot of tennis and traveling to different tournaments. She hasn’t decided where she will play tennis in college. She’ll focus instead she said on self-improvement and being a team player for the Lady Bulldogs, the defending state champion in Class 6A in Arkansas.
“Obviously, the end goal is to win the state,” Houston said. “It’s my senior year. I want to have fun and really bond with the girls.”
Monday’s match finished under the lights following two delays. Play was delayed an hour because of a heat advisory then delayed again by lightning in the area.
The Fayetteville boys also won by 6-3 over Springdale Har-Ber.
“It was a stellar performance from both sides,” Fayetteville coach Darin Phelan said of the two victories. “Har-Ber has some good, top players. So, getting out of here after a good, competitive match, you can’t ask for anything more.”
Har-Ber’s No. 1 doubles
team of Conor Clardy and Hayden Swope are eyeing a state championship after losing to Little Rock Central in the boys state semifinals last year. Clardy and Swope, a junior, looked sharp while defeating Fayetteville’s Tucker Harris and Javon Childress 8-3 in No. 1 doubles on Monday.
“To win a state championship, definitely,” Clardy, said of his goal for his senior year.
“Last year, we had a really good season and I was really comfortable with how Hayden and I played together. We know each other’s play styles and we kind of know where the ball’s going to go. I haven’t play with a doubles partner in back-toback years, so it should be pretty fun this year.”