ISHPEMING — Westwood split a pair of high school girls tennis meets played at the Patriots courts on Thursday, falling to Negaunee 6-2 before bouncing back for an 8-0 victory over Munising.

The Marquette County teams have matches this afternoon, Westwood another home doubleheader with Escanaba at 1 p.m. and Gladstone at 4 p.m., while Negaunee goes to Marquette for a 3:30 p.m. meet.

On Wednesday, the Patriots host Marquette, while on Thursday, Munising plays at Negaunee and Westwood is at Iron Mountain.

Here are details from Thursday’s meets:

Negaunee 8, Westwood 0

Two matches went three sets, with each school winning one.

At No. 1 doubles, the Miners’ Nicole Kerkela and Clare O’Donnell prevailed over the Pats’ Kaylin Doney and Niila Nurmi, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4.

“We had a hard-fought win at (No.) 1 doubles, heading into a third set after we lost a close second set in a tiebreaker,” Negaunee head coach Megan Kerkela said. “Clare O’Donnell and Nicole Kerkela did not give up, attacking at the net and finishing out a third set at 6-4.”

“There were a lot of points that were close and games that were tight, but both Niila and Kaylin played loose and just kept battling for every point,” Patriots’ head coach Sarah Zindler said. “I was proud of how well they managed the ups and downs of the match.

“It can be difficult to mentally be composed for that long in a close match against a rival like Negaunee. These types of matches help us get better.” 

And Westwood also picked up a three-set win at No. 4 singles when Emmi Hamel outlasted the Miners’ Addi Chapman 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

“This is the second three-set match Emmi and Addi have played (against each other),” Zindler said. “Emmi’s competitiveness and hustle are why we knew she’d be a great No. 4 singles player, but she’s really been working on improving her groundstrokes this season.

“I think she knows her strengths and weaknesses now that we’re deep in the season and she’s playing every match with confidence.”

Zindler was also pleased with her team’s other victory, a 6-4, 6-3 win posted by No. 3 singles player Lyn Magnuson over Negaunee’s Stella Lenten.

“Lyn Magnuson played a great match at (No.) 3 singles,” her coach said. “She has been steady all year in her flight and has managed the tight moments in matches very well. She plays within herself and grinds for every point.”

Coach Kerkela was pleased by her No. 1 singles player, Lili Saunders, after a 6-2, 6-2 win over Westwood’s Sami Ruby.

“… Lillian Saunders had a standout match — she came out focused and was able to control a lot of the match,” Megan Kerkela said. “I feel like Lili is really starting to hit her stride and is confident in the balls she is hitting.”

Westwood 8, Munising 0

In the second match of the doubleheader, the Patriots almost pulled off a “perfect” meet, posting seven 6-0, 6-0 victories.

The only real opposition the Mustangs put up was at No. 1 doubles, where Westwood’s Kaylin Doney and Taylor Keranen won 6-2, 6-3 over Munising’s Keira Albright and Tamryn Nolan.

Negaunee 6, Westwood 2

Thursday at Westwood

SINGLES — No. 1, Lili Saunders (N) def. Sami Ruby 6-2, 6-2; No. 2, Rheana Nelson (N) def. Morgan Schneider 6-2, 6-0; No. 3, Lyn Magnuson (W) def. Stella Lenten 6-4, 6-3; No. 4, Emmi Hamel (W) def. Addi Chapman 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

DOUBLES — No. 1, Nicole Kerkela-Clare O’Donnell (N) def. Kaylin Doney-Niila Nurmi 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4; No. 2, Olivia Richards-Sadie Rogers (N) def. Makenna Olson-Ella Stacy 6-0, 6-4; No. 3, Rebecca Lammi-Tori Poutanen (N) def. Tessa Burke-Emmi Carlson 6-4, 6-1; No. 4, Paige O’Donnell-Maia Brunette (N) def. Emerson Williams-Lauren Michaud-Richards 6-2, 6-3

Westwood 8, Munising 0

Thursday at Westwood

SINGLES — No. 1, Sami Ruby (W) def. Madelyn Richarson 6-0, 6-0; No. 2, Morgan Schneider (W) def. Kinley Hall 6-0, 6-0; No. 3, Lyn Magnuson (W) def. Miika Michelson 6-0, 6-0; No. 4, Emmi Hamel (W) def. Addie Frusti 6-0, 6-0

DOUBLES — No. 1, Kaylin Doney-Taylor Keranen (W) def. Keira Albright-Tamryn Nolan 6-2, 6-3; No. 2, Makenna Olson-Ella Stacy (W) def. Maddy Knuttila-Camdyn Schultz 6-0, 6-0; No. 3, Tessa Burke-Emmi Carlson (W) def. Mylee Kulppi-Harper Frusti 6-0, 6-0; No. 4, Emerson Williams-Lauren Michaud-Richards (W) def. Elliot Dolaskie-Zoey Kidd 6-0, 6-0

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