Excelsior Springs’ latest winning season in varsity girls tennis is finished.

With their 5-0 loss Tuesday to topseeded Savannah in the semifinals of the dual, or “team,” portion of the Class 1 District 8 Tournament, the girls finished 9-4 – the third straight season the program has finished better than .500.

It was Excelsior Springs’ second dual loss to Savannah this campaign. The Savages won 9-0 when the schools met Sept. 10 in a Midland Empire Conference (MEC) dual.

The team portion of districts followed a 7-2 MEC loss Oct. 7 to visiting Chillicothe in the regular-season finale for both schools; and the singles and doubles, or “individual,” portion of districts Oct. 9. 

Laney Smith and Charis Dearing

accounted for Excelsior Springs’ two victories against Chillicothe.

Smith edged Lexy Smith 8-5 in No. 1 singles. Defeating a high-caliber player like Lexy Smith is a confidence-booster, according to Laney Smith.

“It definitely wasn’t easy,” the Excelsior Springs senior said. “There were a …