West seniors leading with talent and fun

IOWA CITY – Spend a few minutes around the Iowa City West girls' tennis team, and it's easy to see that their success derives from being a close-knit bunch.

From one competitor to another, any pause between points is a chance to shout positive messages of encouragement to teammates on other courts. The team huddle following a dual is filled with joking and boisterous laughter.

Talented and entertaining – an apt description for the Women of Troy, and it all starts with seniors Megan Jans and Brittani Langland.

'These two are the coolest cats on the court,” West Coach Amie Villarini said after West defeated Burlington, 5-0, in a Class 2A team regional opener Saturday at West. 'They don't let things fluster them. They battle through adversity and that's what this team, the younger ones, are starting to learn.”

The team regional victory caps a strong week for West (14-3), which clinched a division title in the Mississippi Valley Conference on Tuesday with a hard-fought, 5-4 victory at Cedar Falls. The Women of Troy will face Ottumwa in next Saturday's regional semifinal at Cedar Rapids Prairie.

'I think we've grown a lot this season, especially in doubles,' Langland said. 'I'm really proud of how we've done.”

Jans and Langland were runner-up in state doubles last season. Before she heads to Grinnell to study psychology and play tennis, Jans took advantage of one last opportunity to play varsity doubles this season with her sophomore sister, Abby. The siblings vie for a state tournament berth this Thursday in a 2A doubles regional at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center.

'It's really good for the same reasons it's really bad,” Megan said with a laugh. 'I know everything that's she's going to do. I can tell when she's about to miss a shot. ... We tend to sort of lash out at one another, but when she hits a really good shot I'm more proud of her than I would be of Hannah (Smigel) or Brittani.”

In other 2A girls' regionals, Cedar Rapids Washington blanked Jefferson, 5-0, while Kennedy defeated North Scott, 5-1, at Eldridge.

GIRLS' TENNIS TEAM REGIONALS

AT IOWA CITY WEST

Iowa City West 5, Burlington 0

Singles - Megan Jans def. Ahmi Duhna, 6-2, 6-1; Hannah Smigel def. Ali Whisenant, 6-0, 6-0; Brittani Langland def. Lauren Galvin, 6-0, 6-0; Abby Jans def. Michaela Maxwell, 6-3, 6-1; Simran Sarin def. Brianna Wittkamp 6-1, 6-0; Abby Walling def. Emily Bloomer 6-3, 6-2.

AT CAMANCHE

C.R. Xavier 5, Maquoketa 0

Singles - Allison Jaspers def. Elly Flenker, 6-0, 6-0; Jeanne Bouchard def. Sandra Maxwell, 6-0, 6-0; Claire Bouchard def. Kenzie Neumann, 6-0, 6-0; Katie Neumeyer def. Danya Albert, 6-0, 6-0. Megan D'mello def. Shelby Feller, 6-0, 6-0.

AT ELDRIDGE

C.R. Kennedy 5, North Scott 1

Singles - Shelby Cook (CRK) def. Sydney Stoker, 6-1, 6-0; Veena Venkatesh (CRK) def. Crystal Dewulf, 6-2, 6-1; Gabby Olejniczak def. Lizzie Remy, 6-1, 6-1; Lydia Yang (CRK) def. Morgan Ramsey, 6-0, 6-0; Kayla Hoag (NS) def. Renee Mittelberg, 6-0, 6-0; Aubree Langhurst def. Bailey Hall, 6-0, 6-0.

AT C.R. WASHINGTON

C.R. Washington 5, C.R. Jefferson 0

Singles - Lilly Hartman def. Kylie Jonas 6-0, 6-0; Hannah Sherman def. Mary Korch 6-0, 6-0; Kelly King def. Ashley Davidson 6-0, 6-0; Jennifer Greif def. Maddie Slagle 6-1, 6-1; Eliza Sundermann def. Alexis Johnson 6-2, 6-0; Laura Gibson def. Cameron Cox, 6-0, 6-0.

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