Lady Hounds split SEC matches

FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison girls were edged Thursday evening in varsity tennis action.

Keokuk knocked off the Lady Hounds 5-4 in Fort Madison.

Fort Madison got wins from Molly Knipe at No. 1 singles over Brittney Kelly 8-4 and from Lauren Otte 8-0 at No. 3 singles over Sophia Rule. Those were the only singles wins Fort Madison earned.

They did get two doubles wins when Knipe and Otte downed Kelly and Ali Robinson at No. 1 doubles 8-6. Brianna Wright and Naudia Ruston avenged singles losses with a doubles win over Keokuk’s Rule and Aubrey Dade.

But the Chiefs took No. 3 doubles when Jaelyn Johnson and Gracie Thompson beat McKenna Pixler and Madelyn Gobble 8-1 for the winning margin.

On Monday night, Fort Madison upended Mt. Pleasant on the road. The girls got wins at Nos. 1-4 singles action with Knipe, Wright, Otte, and Ruston all getting wins. Pixler and Gobble both suffered losses at Nos. 5 and 6.

Knipe and Otte won at No. 1 doubles, as did Wright and Ruston to give the Bloodhounds a 6-3 victory.

The girls travel to Burlington Thursday night for the Southeast Conference tournament starting at 9 a.m.