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ISHPEMING -- Winning both three-set matches spelled the difference for Negaunee in a 5-3 high school girls tennis victory at Westwood on Wednesday.
The teams split the other six matches right down the middle, 3-3, but Miners No. 1 singles player Stella Lenten and NHS' No. 1 doubles pairing of Paige O'Donnell and Olivia Richards each won their third and final sets to spell the difference in the meet.
Both teams were playing the second match on their respective schedules.
"I was really happy with our performance today," Patriots head coach Sarah Zindler said in an email detailing the result. "Every match was close and competitive. I was pleased with how well our girls battled this early in the season."
Lenten prevailed in her No. 1 singles matchup, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 over Westwood's Lyn Magnuson, while at No. 1 doubles, O'Donnell and Richards won 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 7-5 over the Pats' Ella Stacy and Tessa Burke.
"Despite the loss, Ella and Tessa played a great match today at (No. 1) doubles," Zindler said. "There were a lot of ups and downs but they played hard every point and had great chemistry."
The Westwood coach was also happy with the play of her No. 3 singles player Emmi Carlson, who won 7-5, 6-4 over the Miners' Lucy Rogers.
"Emmi Carlson also played a close match at (No.) 3 singles," Zindler said. "She is adjusting from playing doubles last year, so I was excited to see her have to fight through those tight moments and win a close match."
Overall, the teams split their four singles matches with Negaunee prevailing in three of the four doubles encounters.
Other winners included, for Negaunee, Addie Chapman at No. 2 singles, Maia Brunette and Aubrey Harper at No. 2 doubles, and Audrey Hahn and Sydney Jarvi at No. 4 doubles.
The other Westwood victors were Isabel Belpedio at No. 4 singles and Emerson Williams and Samiah LaFreniere at No. 3 doubles.
The Miners get two for the price of one road trip today, traveling to Gladstone to take on the host Braves along with Menominee starting at 11 a.m.
Next week opens with a home match against Ishpeming at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
After the Patriots hosted Ishpeming and Iron Mountain on Thursday, they will also host Escanaba at 1 p.m. Tuesday and travel to Kingsford at 4:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday before putting on their own Westwood Invitational at 10 a.m. Thursday. Negaunee is also scheduled to be in the tournament field.
Negaunee 5, Westwood 3
Wednesday at Westwood
SINGLES -- No. 1, Stella Lenten (N) def. Lyn Magnuson 7-5, 5-7, 6-3; No. 2, Addie Chapman (N) def. Eliisa Doney 6-3, 7-6 (7-2); No. 3, Emmi Carlson (W) def. Lucy Rogers 7-5, 6-4; No. 4, Isabel Belpedio (W) def. Katie Carlson 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES -- No. 1, Paige O'Donnell-Olivia Richards (N) def. Ella Stacy-Tessa Burke 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 7-5; No. 2, Maia Brunette-Aubrey Harper (N) def. Lauren Michaud-Richards-Ava Wolf 7-5, 7-5; No. 3, Emerson Williams-Samiah LaFreniere (W) def. Bree Helppi-Chloe Wommer 6-1, 6-4; No. 4, Audrey Hahn-Sydney Jarvi (N) def. Jenna Marana-Brie Mahaffey 6-2, 6-4
Story contents based on email received from Westwood tennis coach Sarah Zindler. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.