ESCANABA — The Negaunee High School girls tennis team closed out the dual-meet portion of its schedule with a 6-2 victory at Escanaba on Tuesday afternoon.

The Miners finish out with a pretty nifty 12-1 record heading into the Mid-Peninsula Conference tournament that was scheduled for Thursday at the Negaunee courts.

The MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 1 is scheduled for Wednesday at Westwood.

“We came into (Tuesday) knowing we needed to be playing at our best level,” NHS head coach Megan Kerkela said in an email detailing the result. “With MPCs on Thursday and U.P. Finals next week, our focus was set on building confidence in every shot we take.”

She was particularly pleased with her No. 2 flights in both doubles and singles as Negaunee swept all four singles matches while splitting at doubles.

The Miners’ No. 2 doubles team of Olivia Richards and Sadie Rogers won a decisive 6-2, 6-0 decision over Escanaba’s Sophie Hill and Isabella Noblet, while Negaunee No. 2 singles player Rheana Nelson took a just as dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over the Eskymos’ Olivia Vogel.

“Olivia Richards and Sadie Rogers have been consistent for us all year, ending the regular season undefeated,” Kerkela said. “They play with a lot of grit and are willing to do whatever it takes to pull out a win.

“Rheanna Nelson is another player who ended her regular season undefeated. Rheanna has been hitting the ball well all year and today was no exception. She was able to control the match and execute the shots we have been working on in practice.”

Negaunee 6, Escanaba 2

Tuesday at Escanaba

SINGLES — No. 1, Lili Saunders (N) def. Anna Martin 6-4, 6-1; No. 2, Rheana Nelson (N) def. Olivia Vogel 6-1, 6-1; No. 3, Stella Lenten (N) def. Varrah Veeser 6-0, 6-4; No. 4, Addi Chapman (N) def. Emma Landwehr 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES — No. 1, Aubrey Elliott-Brooklyn Hackleman (E) def. Nicole Kerkela-Clare O’Donnell 6-3, 2-6, 6-4; No. 2, Olivia Richards-Sadie Rogers (N) def. Sophie Hill-Isabella Noblet 6-2, 6-0; No. 3, Hailee Cloutier-Claire Jacobsen (E) def. Rebecca Lammi-Tori Poutanen 6-4, 6-4; No. 4, Paige O’Donnell-Maia Brunette (N) def. Carly Gorenchan-Katie Kievit 6-2, 6-4

Story contents based on email received from NHS head coach Megan Kerkela. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.