McHugh second at Inland Empire tourney

SPOKANE - Winning more than one match at the Inland Empire tournament is usually a big deal for area tennis players.

So, to go 4-1 and advance all the way to the finals in the 53-team tourney before finishing second, as Coeur d'Alene High senior Caitlin McHugh did on Saturday ...

"In my 12 years of coaching, I've never had anybody in the finals, so that's a huge accomplishment," Coeur d'Alene girls coach Laura Taylor said.

Chloe Goyette from West Valley of Yakima (Wash.), who won a Washington state 2A singles title last year as a freshman, defeated McHugh 6-1, 6-0 in Saturday's finals in No. 1 singles at Mead High.

"That girl doesn't miss," Taylor said. "She got to everything, and just had every stroke in the book."

McHugh, who finished fifth last year and was unseeded in this year's tournament, beat the No. 3 seed from Chelan, Wash., on Friday, and defeated Kyra Harmes of Central Valley 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the semifinals earlier Saturday.

"This has been great for Caitlin," Taylor said. "For her to go into regionals hitting the ball like she is is really exciting to see."

The Post Falls boys No. 1 doubles team of Seth McLeod and Casey Benton finished sixth, losing 7-5, 6-2 to a team from Hanford of Richland, Wash. Katie Beckler and Nick Dorsey, playing in the No. 2 mixed doubles, finished seventh after beating a team from Shadle Park by forfeit.