NEGAUNEE — Though it’s hard to get a handle on the season in the first week, it sure seemed like an upset when Westwood handled Negaunee 5-3 in a high school girls tennis meet held at the Miners’ courts on Wednesday.

“Today was our first match,” Patriots head coach Sarah Zindler said in an email detailing the meet. “After graduating quite a few seniors last year, we have the opportunity for there to be some new faces on our varsity team this year.

“I felt like we played really mentally tough (Wednesday). The first match of the year always comes with some nerves for the girls (and) playing a crosstown rival adds to it. A lot of (Wednesday was) just managing your emotions and I thought the girls did a great job of that.”

While Zindler, the former Sarah Massie, is back at her post at Westwood, Negaunee has a new girls coach with Megan Kerkela, who takes over for longtime mentor Kyle Saari, who will still be head coach for the boys’ team in the spring.

The Miners are the three-time defending MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals girls champion in Division 1, though the Patriots were a close runner-up last fall.

“We played some tight matches … and played with confidence and grit,” Massie said about Wednesday’s encounter. “It can be difficult in close matches to play loose and not get in your head. I was proud of how these girls played mentally and physically … for it being their first match.”

While the teams split their four doubles matches, Westwood prevailed in three of four in singles for the difference in the meet.

That included Patriots’ wins at No. 1 singles by Sami Ruby, 6-4, 6-1 over the Miners’ Lili Saunders, and at No. 4 singles by Emmi Hamel, who prevailed in a marathon 7-6 (10-8), 1-6, 6-3 win over Negaunee’s Addi Chapman.

“Sami Ruby played a great match,” Zindler said. “She always knows she’s going to have to battle when playing Lili, but she trusted herself and managed her emotions. 

“Emmi Hamel was the last match on the court. Watching her stay calm and battle through three sets was a lot of fun. She has really grown in her game this summer, especially in the mental aspect, so it’s exciting for her to see her work pay off.”

Negaunee No. 2 singles player Rheana Nelson and Westwood No. 3 singles player Lyn Magnuson also won.

In doubles, Pats’ No. 1 Kaylin Doney and Niila Nurmi and No. 4 Taylor Keranen and Samiah LaFreniere prevailed, as did Miners’ No. 2 Olivia Richards and Sadie Rogers and No. 3 Rebecca Lammi and Tori Poutanen.

Westwood keeps a busy schedule in the few days left before school starts, hosting two matches today, facing Ishpeming at 10 a.m. and Iron Mountain at 11:30 a.m., then hosting West Iron County at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Negaunee also plays a doubleheader on Friday, traveling to Gladstone at 11 a.m., then remaining in the Delta County community to face Menominee at 1 p.m.

Westwood 5, Negaunee 3

Wednesday at Negaunee

SINGLES — No. 1, Sami Ruby (W) def. Lili Saunders 6-4, 6-1; No. 2, Rheana Nelson (N) def. Morgan Schneider 6-2, 6-1; No. 3, Lyn Magnuson (W) def. Stella Lenten 6-3, 6-3; No. 4, Emmi Hamel (W) def. Addi Chapman 7-6 (10-8), 1-6, 6-3

DOUBLES — No. 1, Kaylin Doney-Niila Nurmi (W) def. Nicole Kerkela-Clare O’Donnell 6-3, 6-3; No. 2, Olivia Richards-Sadie Rogers (N) def. Makenna Olson-Ella Stacy 6-4, 6-4; No. 3, Rebecca Lammi-Tori Poutanen (N) def. Tessa Burke-Emmi Carlson 6-3, 6-3; No. 4, Taylor Keranen-Samiah LaFreniere (W) def. Maia Brunette-Aubrey Harper 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Marquette 8, Ishpeming 0

On Monday at Marquette, Sentinels coach Karl Thomsen was impressed with both teams’ level of play after barely a week of practice to open the season.

But his MSHS team didn’t drop a set, though it was still severely tested at No. 1 doubles, where Eva Kentala and Lola Rink survived a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 win over Ishpeming’s Ava Lapin and Janel Seelen.

“The No. 1 doubles match was worth the price of admission,” Thomsen said. “As a coach, it was nice to see Eva Kentala and Lola Rink play their best tennis when the sets got tight.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the level of play from both teams considering we had four days of practice prior to this meet. All four of our singles girls did a solid job of moving their feet and making their opponents hit that extra ball.”

The Sentinels coach was in particular pleased with No. 2 singles player Nora Skytta, who won 6-1, 7-5 over the Hematites’ Frankie Stetson.

“Nora Skytta showed some early-season grit by battling through some mist and a tough opponent to capture a well-played second set.”

At No. 2 doubles, Marquette’s Logan McFarren and Kylie Smith also had a hard-fought opening set before prevailing 7-5, 6-2 over Ishpeming’s Lily Ryan and Lydia Seelen.

In the other five matches, MSHS lost a combined total of just 14 games.

The Sentinels are back in action today with a pair of road matches, facing Gladstone at 11 a.m. and Menominee at 2 p.m. EDT, though there was some question whether both matches might be played at the same site.

Marquette hits the road again for another doubleheader Monday, playing at Kingsford at 11 a.m. EDT, then at West Iron County at 4:30 p.m. EDT.

Marquette 8, Ishpeming 0

Monday at Marquette

SINGLES — No. 1, Marin Johnson (M) def. Ava Jo Hares 6-3, 6-2; No. 2, Nora Skytta (M) def. Frankie Stetson 6-1, 7-5; No. 3, Stella Dehlin (M) def. Camryn Miller 6-0, 6-3; No. 4, Kira Longton (M) def. Sophie Mahoski 6-2, 6-0

DOUBLES — No. 1, Eva Kentala-Lola Rink (M) def. Ava Lapin-Janel Seelen 7-6 (7-5), 7-5; No. 2, Logan McFarren-Kylie Smith (M) def. Lily Ryan-Lydia Seelen 7-5, 6-2; No. 3, Charlyee Swajanen-Eva Dewitt (M) def. Janessa Eagle-Charlie Fredy 6-3, 6-1; No. 4, Grace Jandreau-Brynn Helman (M) def. Tasha Valenti-Melanie Seelen 6-0, 6-0

Story contents based on emails received from Westwood coach Sarah Zindler and Marquette coach Karl Thomsen. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.