BLOOMFIELD — The heat was on, but the Albia Lady Dees rose to the occasion, defeating the Davis County Mustangs in a South Central Conference girls tennis dual on Thursday. The match concluded with a notable performance from Olivia Robinson and her partner Kolbi Haskell, who clinched a 7-5 victory in the No. 1 singles match, marking a significant moment for the team.
Amidst a week-long heat wave that had southern Iowa sweltering with temperatures nearing triple digits, one of the standout stories came from Davis County's Mollie McAninch. The Mustang junior shocked onlookers by playing the entire match in blue jeans, a choice that seemed peculiar given the oppressive heat. Despite her unconventional attire, McAninch exhibited impressive resilience, a testament to her dedication to the sport.
“She didn’t even look like she was sweating out there,” commented Davis County head coach Tucker Henderson. “I know I would have been. I’ve seen guys play in casual shoes, but nothing like that.” McAninch's decision to wear jeans stemmed from her comfort level after a morning spent working on construction projects. She plans to attend Indian Hills Community College to pursue a degree in construction.
“We were on the way over to the meet and I just felt more comfortable in my blue jeans, so I thought I’d wear them for at least one match,” McAninch explained. “Once I won my first match, I decided to keep them on. I love my blue-collar life.” Her determination paid off as she secured a 6-0 victory over Haskell in the No. 2 singles match, contributing to the Lady Dees’ overall success.
The match saw the Lady Dees dominate in singles play, with Alexis Rominger, Koltin Wynn, and Marlie Conley collectively winning 18 of 20 games. Additionally, Eve Harlan and Amelia Seddon delivered strong performances, with Seddon narrowly edging Robinson 7-5 in the top singles match. This singles sweep showcased the depth and talent of the Albia squad.
“It was a long week for us. We had three matches in four days,” said Albia head coach Savannah Wallace. “We’re exhausted. We’re hot. We just tried to counter that by having some fun out there and keeping everyone happy. Most of these girls enjoy the sport, but they really enjoy being around each other.” The camaraderie among the team was evident as they celebrated their hard-fought victory.
With this win, Albia improved their season record to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the South Central Conference. Looking ahead, the Lady Dees will face the Ottumwa Bulldogs on Tuesday at the Dan Staggs Tennis Courts. Meanwhile, Davis County, now at 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the conference, will host Clarke in their next match on Tuesday, aiming to bounce back from this defeat.
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