Negaunee edged out Westwood, 29-27, for the Westwood Invitational championship on Thursday. Negaunee players and coaches include, front row from left, Aubrey Johnson, Halle Palomaki, Nicole Kerkela, Emma Wills, Alyssa Borlace, Addi Chapman, Ella Standerford and Maija Rourke. Top row from left, head coach Kyle Saari, Rheana Nelson, Lili Saunders, Madalynn Peters, Paityn Brunette, Claire O’Donnell, Autumn Ring, Kallen Schultz and assistant coach Emma Miller. (Photo courtesy Kyle Saari)

ISHPEMING — Using a different format from most tournaments, Negaunee survived a marathon day on the courts to edge out the host Patriots for the title at the Westwood Invitational high school girls tennis tournament held Thursday.

With four teams in the field, a round-robin format was used, meaning every athlete played three matches. Each match was a best-of-three like in most dual meets, though a shorter pro-style tiebreaker was used in place of a deciding third set when necessary.

In the end, the Miners scored 29 points to eke a two-point victory over the Patriots, who finished with 27. Marquette was third with 15, while Menominee came in fourth with 9.

Four points were awarded for having the best record at each flight, with three for second place, two for third and one for fourth.

Negaunee won five of the eight flights, each with a 3-0 record, coming in runner-up in the other three, each of those with a 2-1 record.

So the despite the close finish, the Miners won 21 of a possible 24 matches. Westwood kept it close by winning 19 of 24, though, as those two teams finished 1-2 in all eight flights.

“We’ve had a lot of fun, close-knit battles with Westwood over the years and (Thursday) was no different,” Miners head coach Kyle Saari said in an email. “(Upper Peninsula) tennis is extremely strong right now on the girls side, and these tournament days are great tests for them.”

Patriots head coach Sarah Zindler had similar sentiments.

“With a round-robin style like we played … everyone had the chance to play three matches,” she said in her email that also detailed the results. “(Our) girls have played a lot of tennis in the past few days, but I’m happy with where they’re at.

“We’ve played a lot of tough opponents and each of those matches have pushed our girls to be better.”

Negaunee built its edge by winning the top three flights in singles, then splitting with Westwood in doubles, each school winning twice.

The Miners’ Aubrey Johnson swept to a 3-0 record at No. 1 singles, teammate Lili Saunders did the same at No. 2 singles, and Negaunee’s Rheana Nelson was also perfect at No. 3 singles.

“Aubrey, Lili and Rheana have so much experience between them, and they’ve been in so many different situations over the years,” Saari said. “That’s a major advantage for them when you play three matches in a day.

“They all have slightly different styles, but the one thing they have in common is that they’ve been incredible in terms of mental toughness. In particular, Lili has grown so much in these first few weeks (of the season).”

Negaunee added 3-0 marks with the No. 2 doubles pair of Autumn Ring and Alyssa Borlace and No. 4 doubles tandem of Halle Palomaki and Emma Wills.

“Autumn and Alyssa really did a nice job … too,” Saari said. “There’s great chemistry between the two and both are real smart players. Autumn is steady for us in all parts of the court and Alyssa is certainly the aggressor. It’s a fun combo.”

Westwood had perfect three-match records posted by the No. 1 doubles duo of Izzie Marta and Nolia Dawson and No. 3 doubles pair of Emersyn Nelson and Niila Nurmi, along with No. 4 singles player Morgan Schneider.

“Izzie and Nolia have become a great pairing at No. 1 doubles,” Zindler said. “They’ve been challenged by a lot of teams because it’s a very competitive flight, but they play every match with such intensity. They’re a lot of fun to watch.

“Emersyn and Niila at No. 3 doubles are a new doubles pairing for us this year … and they are becoming a great team. As they learn to navigate each other and develop some chemistry, they’ve been playing better and better. I was proud of them today for their first-place finish after having lost to Negaunee the last time they played.

“Morgan Schneider also took first (place) in her flight…. Singles can be very tough mentally and wins like today help build confidence for future matches. I think Morgan is starting to really get comfortable in her spot and has become a very consistent player.”

Marquette finished third with a 1-2 record at seven flights, while Menominee broke through for third place at No. 2 singles with that record.

The only one of these teams with a match scheduled for today is Negaunee, which is set to play at Gwinn at 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, Marquette hosts West Iron County at 3:30 p.m., while the Miners host Westwood at 4 p.m.

Then on Thursday, all five teams will be on the court. Negaunee is at Marquette at 3:30 p.m., Ishpeming at Westwood at 4 p.m. and Iron Mountain is at Gwinn, also at 4 p.m.

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Westwood 7, Escanaba 1

Last Tuesday at Westwood, the Patriots warmed up for their own tourney by sweeping every set in singles and splitting a pair of three-setters in doubles.

“We faced some adversity at some point in every match and there were a lot of momentum shifts,” Zindler said in an email detailing those results. “It’s easy to get frustrated in those situations, and I was happy to see all of the girls battle … in those tight moments.”

She was particularly pleased with the leadership shown at Westwood’s No. 1 flights. No. 1 singles player Lexi Olson posted a 6-2, 7-5 win over Esky’s Maggie Martin, while the No. 1 doubles tandem of Izzie Marta and Nolia Dawson won 6-3, 6-4 over the Eskymos’ Sonya Maki and Anna Martin.

“Lexi is gaining confidence in her strokes and now we are just working on her knowing how to use all of the tools she has,” the coach said about Olson. “Managing her composure like she did in the second set … is important in any No. 1 singles match.

“No. 1 doubles continues to play well together. Izzie and Nolia are both such great competitors, and that’s naturally allowed them to figure out their style of play together.”

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Kingsford 5, Marquette 3

On Aug. 26 at Kingsford, the Flivvers prevailed due in large part to winning three of the four matches that were extended to three sets.

Marquette’s lone victory in a marathon match on this hot, muggy day was by No. 4 singles player Nora Skytta, who outlasted Kingsford’s Maddie Zeuske 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 12-10.

“(This) meet against a solid Kingsford Flivvers team had a little bit of a tournament feel,” Sentinels head coach Karl Thomsen said in an email detailing the result. “There were a lot of game runs by both teams, several three-set matches that went down to the wire, and good competitive spurts.

“My hat goes off to all the girls … for battling through some crazy sunshine and heat.

“At No. 4 singles, Nora Skytta scrapped out a nice win with a 12-10 tiebreak in place of the third set. I really love how Nora fights for every ball and every point.

“She is still learning the game, but her level of ‘compete’ is outstanding, which means she has a really high ceiling.”

MSHS also picked up a pair of decisive wins in doubles. No. 3 Logan McFarren and Kylie Smith defeated KHS’ Adyson Shogren and Reagan Cram 6-1, 6-1, while No. 4 Charlye Swajanen and Eva Dewitt won 6-4, 6-2 over the Flivvers’ Addi Paternoster and Maddy Sleik.

“I thought our Nos. 3 and 4 doubles teams did a great job … of communicating during their matches,” Thomsen said. “… All four of these girls are starting to understand the game of doubles.”

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