By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity tennis team will be looking to move up two positions in the Lady Panther-Rally Against Cancer Tournament on Friday at Kalamazoo College.
The Chieftains finished third in last year's tournament, which is hosted by Parchment.
Dowagiac's four singles players all won championships as the Chieftains amassed 50 points.
Parchment won the tournament with 64 points while Paw Paw was second with 51 points. Niles finished fourth with 42 points.
Joining the Lady Panthers and Dowagiac at this year's tournament, which will be held on the Stowe Stadium tennis courts, will be Buchanan, Forest Hills Eastern, Grand Rapids North Pointe Christian, Paw Paw, Lake Michigan Catholic and Vicksburg.
The format will have four singles flights and five doubles flights. Play is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.
Last season Lisa Rubino was the champion at No. 1 singles over Parchment's Jess Conklin, 6-3 and 6-0. Ann O'Keefe was the champion at No. 4 singles against Bailey Beck of Bronson. O'Keefe, who has moved up to No. 2 singles, won 6-0 and 6-2.
Dowagiac also got a third place effort from its No. 1 doubles team of Amelia First and Lindsay Tyler. First is now the No. 4 singles player, while Tyler has teamed with Calie Daniels to make up the Chieftains' No. 1 doubles team.
Last year Daniels teamed with Kelli Schaus at No. 2 doubles.
Match moved
The Dowagiac varsity tennis match against Lakeshore scheduled for Wednesday has been moved to Sept. 20.
The varsity will now play in Stevensville with the junior varsity hosting the Lady Lancers.
Both matches are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.