By Cort Reynolds
ELIDA - The Bluffton girls tennis team competed hard but saw their season end at the Div. II sectional tournament Thursday at Elida.
Three Bluffton girls competed in the singles flight, while two Lady Pirate doubles duos also played but fell in tough three-setters.
In her first match Pirate Caitlyn Couch rallied to beat Claire Ellerbrock of Ottawa-Glandorf 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in the round of 32. It turned out to be the only Pirate win of the day.
Second-seeded Van Wert Cougar Allie Etter then eliminated Couch in the round of 16 by a 6-0, 6-1 count to advance to the quarterfinals.
Ellison Pugsley of Bluffton lost her opening round match to Van Wert's Lizzie Rutkowski 6-0, 6-0.
Pirate Brooke Camper also fell to Grace Collins of Kenton in her first round singles match by a 6-1, 6-4 score.
In doubles action, the Pirate senior duo of Olivia Barnes and Julia Smallcombe received a first round bye. The tandem then bowed out in the round of 16 after winning the first set 0-6, 6-3, 6-0 to the O-G duo of Emma Schmiedebusch and Sami Ellerbrock.
The Bluffton junior tandem of Ellie Nickel and Libby Frazier lost to Ava Shock and Courtney Brown of Defiance in their round of 32 three-set battle 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Only the top four finishers in the singles and doubles flights Saturday will advance to district play next week October 15/17 at Port Clinton.
