By Journal Sports Staff

ISHPEMING — The Negaunee High School boys tennis team improved to 4-0 this spring after dispatching Westwood 8-0 at the Patriots’ courts on Monday afternoon.

While the Miners won every flight in straight sets, Westwood’s Andrew Niemi put up quite a fight at No. 1 singles against Negaunee’s Luke Syrjala.

Syrjala prevailed 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).

“Luke showed some grit in his tiebreaker against a solid opponent,” NHS head coach Kyle Saari said in an email. “(Syrjala) was down 5-2 in the second (set) and his serve started to click, allowing him to fight back quickly.”

Otherwise, the Miners lost just a dozen games combined in the other seven flights, including a 6-2, 6-1 win posted by Negaunee’s Philip Nelson and Zack Brundage at No. 3 doubles over the Pats’ John Thomsen and Nick Salzwedel.

“Phil and Zack have given us a real solid option at (No.) 3 doubles,” Saari said. “Zack played there last year and took a big leap this year in every area of his game.

“We’re excited to see Phil progress each day. He’s one of the best athletes that have come through Negaunee (and he) decided to play tennis this year, and he’s fit in from day one.”

Other Miners’ wins were posted by Gavin Saunders at No. 2 singles, Mick Kumpula at No. 3 singles and Tyler Lajimodiere at No. 4 singles, along with James Thomsen and Jace Turri at No. 1 doubles, Gavin Downey and Gavin Jacobson at No. 2 doubles, and Branden Borlace and Ethan Harris at No. 4 doubles.

Negaunee was to host Gwinn this afternoon before traveling to Marquette today.

Marquette 4, Kingsford 4

On Monday in Kingsford, the Redmen played to a tie for the second time in a week, winning the top three flights in singles plus No. 2 doubles.

“(This was) a great matchup with two evenly matched teams,” MSHS head coach Karl Thomsen said in an email report about the match. “Kingsford has athletes at every flight, which led to a lot of tight matches.

“There were four three-set matches today.”

Marquette was only able to win one of the three-setters, however, as Liam McFarren and Andrew King at No. 2 doubles outlasted the Flivvers’ Jacob Saari and Eli Wallis 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

“The team of Andrew King and Liam McFarren had a great battle at No. 2 doubles,” Thomsen said. “After splitting the first two sets, that duo really put the gas down and played some high-level doubles in the decisive third set.

“Although we were only able to capitalize in one of those three-setters, I think we had a lot of takeaways from the other three matches.”

Those trio of three-setters included Marquette No. 4 singles player Elan Chu falling to Kingsford’s Landon Adam, 6-3 4-6, 7-5, along with MSHS No. 1 doubles tandem of Caleb Janofski and Isaac Johnson dropping a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 decision to the Flivvers’ Ben Trevillian and Gabe Lafreniere, while Redmen No. 3 doubles duo of Abe Kentala and Austin Beres lost out 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to KHS’ Chris Sweig and Hunter Hulkkonen.

“Over in the singles department, Matt Barsch (at No. 1), Chase Thomsen (at No. 2) and Seppi Camilli (at No. 3) all had nice victories,” Coach Thomsen said.

“At No. 1, Barsch played a very smart and steady match against a solid opponent.”

After facing undefeated Negaunee today, the Redmen get a return match with the Flivvers at home on Thursday.

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