Platte County tennis 2nd in Cameron, continues Suburban win streak

Platte County’s return to the Cameron Tournament resulted in a disappointing second-place finish. After not playing in the field last year, the Pirates came up a half point short of defending champion Warrensburg on Wednesday, Sept. 9 in Cameron, Mo. Rachel and Hannah Valentine both medaled in singles play while junior doubles duo Stephanie Laures and Madalyn Ivy reached the finals of the doubles bracket.

Platte County needed just one more win to capture its second tournament title of the season after topping the Benton Invitational field the previous week.

Rachel Valentine reached the finals of the singles bracket but lost to Savannah’s Jenny Cornelius, who beat Hannah Valentine in the first round. Hannah Valentine rallied all the way back to take fifth place and win the consolation bracket after the opening loss.

Aliya Harsh and Lauren Laderoute went 0-2 in doubles play after entering the tournament undefeated on the season.

Platte County 6, Winnetonka 3

In the second matchup of Suburban Conference Blue Division rivals, the Griffins hung closer but lost again.

Platte County continued its lengthy conference win streak after taking the previous matchup 7-2. Ivy and Laures won at No. 1 doubles and Harsh and Laderoute did the same at No. 3 to give the Pirates the early edge. The Valentine sisters suffered their first loss as a team at No. 2.

Winnetonka took early leads at Nos. 1, 3 and 5 singles, but Rachel Valentine rallied from an 8-3 deficit to win 10-8 at the top spot, and Ivy, Hannah Valentine and Brittany Alvarado also scored victories to secure the win. Playing at No. 6, Alvarado also won 10-8.

Platte County improved to 7-0 on the season, 5-0 in league play, entering a rematch with Grandview scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Mo. The results were not available at The Citizen’s deadline. The Pirates have two duals and two tournaments in a busy week.

Platte County 7, Grandview 2

The Pirates won this road match in Blue Division play by the same score as each of the previous two seasons.

Grandview senior Alyssa Williams won at No. 1 singles and helped the Bulldogs to a victory at No. 1 doubles against Ivy and Laures. However, the Pirates’ depth won out again despite the first loss of the season for No. 1 Rachel Valentine.