Down 7-6, Shelbey Johnson pulled even in her singles match Tuesday afternoon but the Poplar Bluff senior couldn't complete the comeback as the Mules were swept by conference champion Kennett 9-0.
"Toughest opponent we've played all year, but there were some bright spots," Mules coach Charles Harper said.
Johnson lost her No. 2 singles match 9-7 to Kennett's Kayton Harris after Johnson and fellow senior Kaitlyn Lloyd were honored.
Lloyd suffered an 8-1 loss at No. 3 singles to Darcy Campbell.
Playing at the varsity level for a second straight season, Lloyd has a career mark of 7-18 in singles play and was a top-seeded doubles player last year for the Mules.
"Diligent student, hard working tennis player, but most importantly a top-notch person," Harper said of Lloyd. "She's a leader and she cares about others for sure. She wants to do and be her best, and she brings that out in others as well."
Lloyd and doubles partner Mya White lost their No. 2 match 8-3 to Darcy Campbell and Sydni McAtee after suffering an 8-1 loss to the Kennett pair in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament over the weekend.
Johnson joined the tennis team for the first time this fall and is among the team leaders for wins in singles play at 5-8.
Harper said Johnson has been a "fantastic surprise" and that her preseason hitting and work ethic made her a solid No. 2 player.
"To do what she has in a specialized sport like tennis is remarkable," Harper said. "Her fun-loving spirit has been an asset to the team as well. Top-notch student athlete and young lady."
Kennett's Anna Williams and Kayton Harris, who claimed the conference doubles title, won the top-seeded doubles match 8-3 over Johnson and Holland. Poplar Bluff's Caitlin Dollins and Clarissa Varner lost 8-0.
In the top-seeded singles match, Williams beat Holland 8-0 while White also lost by the same score at No. 4 against Phillips, who finished second in the conference singles tournament. Dollins and Varner each lost 8-1 for the Mules (4-8).
The Mules travel Thursday to Cape Central to close the regular season before the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 playoffs start Monday at the higher seed. Poplar Bluff will host the individual district tournament Sept. 28.