From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Joplin’s Rachel Lazenby is going to state.

The Eagles’ No. 1 singles player lost only three games in cruising past four opponents in winning the title in the Class 2 District 5 tennis tournament Friday at Cooper Complex.

Lazenby defeated Maggie Givens of Branson 6-2, 6-0, in the championship match and will compete in the state tournament here Oct. 24-25.

In earlier matches, Lazenby whipped Katie Goeden of Ozark 6-0, 6-0; Annie Armstrong of Kickapoo 6-0, 6-1; and Katie Bolton of Nixa 6-0, 6-0.

Joplin’s other singles entry, Siri Ancha, lost her first-round match to Kim Cody of Parkview, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (8-2), 3-6. She won two matches in the consolation bracket, defeating Ally Kunce of Central 8-1 and Josie Smith, Carthage, 8-5, before losing to Emily Derges, Ozark, 8-5.

In doubles, the Eagles’ Denise Moreno and Hannah Ingle defeated Bailey Blagg and Crystal Dalton in the opening round, 6-1, 6-0 before they lost to Bennett and Emmott, Glendale, 6-3, 6-2. In consolation play, the Joplin duo defeated Moody-Nolte, Ozark, 8-4, before losing to Vuselmeyer-Proter, Central, 8-4.

Joplin’s other doubles team of Lexi Willcoxson and Erika Freeborn lost two straight matches, losing to McMahan-Oxendine, Neosho, 4-6, 7-6 (8-2), 6-3, and to Lewis-Marsden, Central, 8-1.

Springfield Kickapoo won the team title with 321/2 points and Glendale finished second with 271/2. Trailing the leaders were Branson 21, Joplin 17, Ozark 131/2, Central 131/2, Carthage 13, Nixa 10, Parkview 9 and Neosho 81/2.