The 2023 season ended with a trophy for the Pella girls tennis team. Pella placed 4th during Tuesday’s semifinals and finals matches, falling 5-0 to eventual champions Waterloo Columbus and in a hard-fought back and forth with Central DeWitt 5-4, which included two third-set tiebreakers the Dutch ended up losing — including the final doubles match with the 3rd place trophy on the line. Wins for Pella came from Emily Blom, Alloree Else, and Bryn Higginbotham in singles, and Claire Smock fell in one of the two tiebreakers. Mallory Westerkamp and Bryn Higginbotham were able to win the fourth match for Pella, but the match came down to #1 singles after Smock/Blom fell in their doubles match. Else and Lily VanDusseldorp held a slim lead in the first set, but couldn’t manage to close it out, losing 5-7. The second set was a decisive 6-3 victory for the Dutch. With all other matches finished, the meet was decided in a match tiebreak that went the way of the Sabers.

Find full results below. Pella did not graduate any seniors from their varsity lineup, but the match did mark the final time Josh McCollam will coach the program, as he’s accepted a position as a principal in the North Mahaska School District. The Dutch qualified for the state quarterfinals four times with McCollam.

Ever since falling to Cedar Rapids Xavier in the finals again in 2022 — which marked the third consecutive season the Saints had toppled the Dutch boys tennis team, the group from Pella has had eyes on the final two days of the season in 2023. The wire-to-wire top ranked team in Class 1A, the Dutch will defend that name and try to push the school to their first-ever team championship. The round of eight begins today in Iowa City with #1 Pella taking on #8 Ballard. The winner advances to take on either #4 Wahlert or #5 Spencer in the semifinals at least one hour after all quarterfinals matches have finished. The final two teams will compete at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the University of Iowa tennis courts.

Also in action today:
Pella Girls Soccer vs. ADM (State Quarterfinals) – 12:15 pregame, 12:45 opening kick on 92.1 KRLS
Pella Baseball DH vs. Newton – 5 p.m. (game two on the KRLS3 stream/Pella Dutch Live)
Pella Softball DH vs. Newton – 5 p.m.