ISHPEMING — The Westwood High School girls tennis team didn’t let a shutout in defeat to Negaunee on Wednesday affect their play on Thursday, posting an 8-0 win over Ishpeming and 6-2 victory over Iron Mountain on the second day of the season.

“Our girls had a long day (Thursday) with a rain delay in between matches,” Patriots coach Sarah Massie said. “I was happy to see them play well despite the circumstances. I felt they all played more relaxed than they did during their first meet of the year (Wednesday). Jillian Koski at No. 2 singles really found her groove today and played two great matches.”

Koski lost just four games in all Thursday, defeating the Hematites’ Isabel Luke 6-1, 6-0, and IM’s Arianna Morel 6-0, 6-3.

—————

Westwood 8, Ishpeming 0

On Thursday at Westwood, the Pats won every match in two sets, though at No. 3 singles, WHS’ Natalie Blanck picked up a default victory after the second game of the second set in a match against Ishpeming’s Ashley Stille.

In all, the Patriots lost just five games, including 6-0, 6-0 wins posted by No. 4 singles player Hannah Mattila, No. 3 doubles tandem of Allison Korpi and Lindsay Williams and No. 4 doubles duo of Mallory Leece and Kalle Keranen.

Other Westwood wins were posted by No. 1 singles player Jenna Wealton, No. 2 singles Jillian Koski, the No. 1 doubles pair of Ellie Miller and Avery Mariuzza and No. 2 doubles tandem of Claire Gilles and Natalie Prophet.

—————

Westwood 6, Iron Mountain 2

Also on Thursday at Westwood, the Patriots swept doubles, losing just six games in the process, while splitting at singles as Wealton won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and Koski was victorious 6-0, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.

The doubles teams were the same as in the Ishpeming match.

Blanck extended her No. 3 singles match to a pro-style tiebreaker before the Mountaineers’ Callie Bianco prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 10-6.

—————

Negaunee 8, Westwood 0

On Wednesday at Westwood, the Patriots put up a much better battle than the final score might indicate, with three matches going to a third set or a tiebreaker, and two more having a 7-5 score in one set.

“This was a really competitive match to kick (the season) off,” Miners coach Kyle Saari said. “We had to respond to a number of pressure situations and it’s nice to see that early.”

Massie had similar sentiments.

“I was happy with the way we competed against a veteran Negaunee team,” the Westwood coach said. “We graduated a lot of the top of our lineup from last year and have girls that are excited to fill those shoes.”

At No. 1 singles, the Miners’ Lilly Nelson slipped past Wealton 2-6, 6-4, 6-2; at No. 4 singles, Annika Tervo bested Williams 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 10-4; and at No. 3 doubles, Madi Austin and Emma Miller got by Leece and Korpi 6-1, 2-6, 6-1.

Other Negaunee wins were posted at No. 2 singles by Jillian Skewis and No. 3 singles by Lexi Mason, along with No. 1 doubles by Morgan Carlson and Katelyn Lammi, No. 2 doubles by Shayla Williams and Tianna Williams, and No. 4 doubles by Daylyn Drew and Faith Mager.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.