ISHPEMING — When legendary Detroit Tigers radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell talked about “two for the price of one,” he was talking double plays by the team at Michigan and Trumbull.

On Thursday, though, he could’ve been talking about the Westwood High School girls tennis team, which didn’t drop a set, let alone a match, in a two-meet day at its home courts.

The Patriots swept both Ishpeming and Iron Mountain 8-0 to improve to 3-0 this season, the other win a tough 5-3 triumph over three-time defending MHSAA Upper Peninsula champion Negaunee a day earlier.

“The sun finally came out (Thursday) for us to play two matches,” WHS head coach Sarah Zindler said. “Being this early in the season we’re just finding our groove and building our confidence.

“Getting a few wins early in the season helps with that. Everyone is adjusting to their new flight and figuring out what works for them. 

“I’m excited to see how our young players and girls that are new to varsity have played these last few days. They have a drive to get better and have been great competitors in their matches so far.”

She used the same players in the same flights in each match, every one of them a two-set sweep.

The Hematites put up the better fight, only allowing Westwood to post three 6-0 set sweeps among the 16 played and actually winning 27 games overall. The toughest battle came at No. 2 doubles, where the Patriots’ Makenna Olson and Ella Stacy prevailed 6-2, 6-4 over Ishpeming’s Lilly Ryan and Janelle Seelen.

At the other end of the spectrum, Westwood’s Lyn Magnuson was pretty much perfect at No. 3 singles, winning 6-0, 6-0.

Then in the Iron Mountain match, the Mountaineers couldn’t prevent the Pats from posting eight 6-0 set sweeps, even with No. 2 singles being a forfeit.

IM won just nine games, a majority coming at No. 1 singles where Westwood’s Sami Ruby prevailed over Alysia Wood 6-3, 6-2.

Three doubles tandems — No. 1 Kaylin Doncy and Niila Nurmi, the No. 2 pair of Olson and Stacy, and No. 4 Taylor Keranen and Lauren Michaud-Richards — were all full-on 6-0, 6-0 sweeps.

Westwood 8, Ishpeming 0

Thursday at Westwood

SINGLES — No. 1, Sami Ruby (W) def. Ava Jo Hares 6-1, 6-1; No. 2, Morgan Schneider (W) def. Sophia Nerlfi 6-1, 6-4; No. 3, Lyn Magnuson (W) def. Frankie Stetson 6-0, 6-0; No. 4, Emmi Hamel (W) def. Sophie Mahoski 6-1, 6-2

DOUBLES — No. 1, Kaylin Doney-Niila Nurmi (W) def. Ava Lopin-Stella Nerlfi 6-4, 6-1; No. 2, Makenna Olson-Ella Stacy (W) def. Lilly Ryan-Janelle Seelen 6-2, 6-4; No. 3, Tessa Burke-Emmi Carlson (W) def. Lydia Seelen-Janessa Eagle 6-3, 6-1; No. 4, Taylor Keranen-Lauren Michaud-Richards (W) def. Tasha Valenti-Charlie Fredy 6-0, 6-2

Westwood 8, Iron Mountain 0

Thursday at Westwood

SINGLES — No. 1, Sami Ruby (W) def. Alysia Wood 6-3, 6-2; No. 2, Morgan Schneider (W) won by forfeit; No. 3, Lyn Magnuson (W) def. Jacalyn Rowe 6-1, 6-0; No. 4, Emmi Hamel (W) def. Grace Webb 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES — No. 1, Kaylin Doney-Niila Nurmi (W) def. Ella Theisen-Lindsey Lewandowski 6-0, 6-0; No. 2, Makenna Olson-Ella Stacy (W) def. Kailey Jayne-Penelope Geneva 6-0, 6-0; No. 3, Tessa Burke-Emmi Carlson (W) def. Olivia Geneva-Jules Saldana 6-1, 6-1; No. 4, Taylor Keranen-Lauren Michaud-Richards (W) def. Rhiannon Johnson-Kaya Grassinger 6-0, 6-0

Ishpeming 4, W. Iron Cty. 4

On Thursday, the Hematites won three singles flights, including by freshman Camryn Miller and by Frankie Stetson at No. 3 and by Ava Jo Hares in a three-set match.

In doubles, Ishpeming got its lone win from Lydia Seelen and Jenessa Eagle.

Story contents based on email received from Westwood coach Sarah Zindler and Ishpeming coach Josh Kitto. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.