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Marquette, Westwood, Negaunee tennis teams all register wins

Marquette’s No. 1 doubles tandem of Payton Pleaugh, left, and Lexi Hammerstrom, right, wait for Westwood’s Alyssa Couveau on her serve in their tennis meet held at Marquette Senior High School on Friday. (Photo courtesy Steve Lindberg)

MARQUETTE — Marquette and Westwood each got some dual meet play in before they head to their respective conference tournaments on Wednesday morning.

Each got a win Friday as MSHS hosted a pair of matches that day. The Patriots posted a 6-2 victory over Marquette, while MSHS evened the day with a 7-1 victory over Menominee.

Meanwhile, Negaunee posted yet another 8-0 meet win at home over Menominee on Thursday.

Marquette moves on to the Great Northern Conference meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Escanaba, while Westwood and the Miners advance to the Mid-Peninsula Conference meet at the same time in Negaunee.

Here is a rundown on these meets:

——————-

Westwood 6, Marquette 2

Westwood would only relent at the two lower flights of doubles, both of those matches going Marquette’s way in three sets.

“The (meet) against Westwood was the second (meet) of a doubleheader and a great trial run for the upcoming tournaments,” Marquette head coach Karl Thomsen said in an email detailing the results. “It was almost 80 degrees outside and our girls battled and fought for every point.

“This (meet) capped off a good week of tennis for our girls, which we will hopefully use to catapult us into the GNC tournament.”

At No. 3 doubles, Marquette’s Laura Barsch and Aubree Blackburn came back for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over the Patriots’ Niila Nurmi and Eliisa Doney, then at No. 4 doubles, MSHS’ Eva Sjoholm and Mylee Muscoe also pulled off a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback over Westwood’s Berkley Richards and Kayla Etelamaki.

“The doubles matches were all very close as three of them went to a third set and the No. 1 doubles match was a close two-setter,” Thomsen said. “Our No. 3 doubles team and our No. 4 doubles team both got worked over pretty good in the first set.

“To their credit, there was no panic, a lot of confidence and some really smart tennis, which eventually allowed them to complete the comeback victories.”

In singles, Westwood No. 1 Lexi Olson, No. 2 Sami Ruby, No. 3 Emersyn Nelson and No. 4 Morgan Schneider each won in straight sets, as did teammates at No. 1 doubles of Izzie Marta and Alyssa Couveau.

The Patriots’ toughest win came at No. 2 doubles, with Nolia Dawson and Kaylin Doney pulling off a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 victory over Marquette’s Natalie Deneau and Maija Parkkonen.

——————-

Marquette 7, Menominee 1

No marathon matches came to be against Menominee with every flight just going two sets.

The toughtest wins for Marquette came at No. 1 singles and Nos. 1 and 3 doubles.

In singles, MSHS No. 1 Payton Bullock downed Menominee’s Elena Murphy 7-5, 6-4, while in doubles, Marquette No. 1 Payton Pleaugh and Lexi Hammerstrom fended off the Maroons’ Madelyn Barker and Kamryn Olsen 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, and at No. 3, MSHS’ Barsch and Blackburn held off Menominee’s Ava Chouinard and Ella Barker 7-5, 6-4.

“God blessed us with a beautiful late September day for a tennis doubleheader and I think our girls fed off the weather,” Thomsen said. “Our singles girls really hit the ball well against Menominee. (No. 4 singles player) Kyra Autio has been battling some foot issues, but you wouldn’t have noticed it today. Her court coverage and movement was awesome and that allowed her to get off the court fairly quickly.

“At No. 1 singles, Payton Bullock continued a good week of tennis with some impressive shot-making against a strong opponent.

“On the doubles side of things, Payton Pleaugh and Lexi Hammerstrom figured out the puzzle and put together a solid victory.”

——————-

Negaunee 8, Menominee 0

On Thursday in Negaunee, the Miners remained dominant while improving to 12-0-1 by losing just 16 games over the eight flights.

NHS had a trio of 6-0, 6-0 whitewashes posted by No. 2 singles player Lili Saunders, No. 4 singles player Madalynn Peters and the No. 2 doubles duo of Olivia Lunseth and Sage Juntti.

“We took a major step toward what we want to be at the end of the year (Thursday),” Miners head coach Kyle Saari said in an email detailing the result. “(Wednesday’s) practice carried (over) and everyone tried to set the pace for their match.

“Madalynn’s been motivated all year to keep finding ways to get better, and she played terrific. Every part of her game has improved from last year, and her confidence along with it.”

He also noted the play of his No. 4 doubles tandem of Halle Palomaki and Emma Wills, who won 6-2, 6-1 over the Maroons’ Anna Maisciek and Andi Anderson.

“Halle and Emma played well today, too,” the Negaunee coach said. “When they’re focused and on their game they can play with anyone.”

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

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