Trending
MARQUETTE -- Practice nearly made perfect for the Marquette Senior High School girls tennis team.
The Sentinels only lost when one of its players had to withdraw from a match as MSHS triumphed 7-1 over Ishpeming in the season opener on Monday.
"It was a nice start to the season which complements a first week of solid practices," Marquette head coach Karl Thomsen said in an email detailing the result. "Eva Dewitt and Charlye Swajanen showed some senior poise as they put things together after the first set."
Playing at No. 1 doubles, Dewitt and Swajanen were the only Sentinels extended to a third set before prevailing 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 over the Hematites' Stella Nerlfi and Charlee Fredy.
"In the second and third sets, their level of compete and want increased tremendously," Thomsen said about the No. 1 doubles pairing.
Sophia Nerlfi posted Ishpeming's victory, after the Sentinels' Eva Kentala had to retire after four games of the opening set.
And after No. 4 doubles picked up a forfeit win, the remaining five flights for MSHS all won in straight sets, the quintet dropping a total of 12 games between them.
That included No. 2 singles player Stella Dehlin, No. 3 Kirra Longtine and No. 4 Nora Skytta, along with the No. 2 doubles duo of Lola Rink and Charlotte Thomsen and No. 3 doubles tandem of Grace Jandreau and Bryn Helman.
"Our singles girls did a good job of playing patient tennis," the Sentinels' coach said. "I thought they did a great job of not trying to do too much, yet taking advantage of the opportunities when they presented themselves.
"I'm excited to get some more practice time this week and continue to have the girls challenge each other."
Marquette hits the road for a doubleheader today, playing at Gladstone at 10 a.m. and traveling south to Menominee to take on the Maroons at 2 p.m. EDT.
Ishpeming also plays today, traveling to Westwood at 10 a.m.
Marquette 7, Ishpeming 1
Monday at Marquette
SINGLES -- No. 1, Sophia Nerfli (I) def. Eva Kentala, 1-3, retired; No. 2, Stella Dehlin (M) def. Frankie Stetson 6-2, 6-2; No. 3, Kirra Longtine (M) def. Camryn Miller 6-1, 6-1; No. 4, Nora Skytta (M) def. Anja Laitinen 6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES -- No. 1, Eva Dewitt-Charlyee Swajanen (M) def. Stella Nerlfi-Charlee Fredy 5-7, 6-0, 6-2; No. 2, Lola Rink-Charlotte Thomsen (M) def. Sophie Mahoski-Melanie Seelen 6-1, 6-1; No. 3, Grace Jandreau-Bryn Helman (M) def. Callie Nelson-Camby Gauthier 6-3, 6-0; No. 4, Morgan Downey-Sydney Kuhl (M) won by forfeit
Westwood 7, WIC 1
On Tuesday at Westwood's courts, the Patriots also had a successful season opener, winning all but No. 1 singles, which went to three sets before West Iron County's Grace Smith prevailed over Westwood's Lyn Magnuson 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
"Today was a beautiful day for tennis," Pats head coach Sarah Zindler said in her email detailing this result. "It was our first match of the season ... so a lot of girls were able to work through those first-match jitters and see success on the court.
"We have a lot of new varsity players this year, so I'm excited to see how they develop this season."
The seven matches won by Westwood all came in straight sets; in fact, the Patriots only lost a total of 10 games between them.
For example, at No. 2 singles, WHS' Eliisa Doney defeated the Wykons' Haleigh LeMay 6-0, 6-0, while at No. 1 doubles, Westwood's Tessa Burke and Ella Stacy downed WIC's Rochelle Bear and Marlee Benson 6-1, 6-0.
The Patriots other winners were Emmi Carlson at No. 3 singles, Isabel Belpedio at No. 4 singles, Ava Wolf and Lauren Michaud-Richards at No. 2 doubles, Emerson Williams and Samiah LaFreniere at No. 3 doubles, and Jenna Marana and Brie Mahaffey at No. 4 doubles.
Westwood hosts a pair of opponents today, facing Ishpeming at 10 a.m. and Iron Mountain at noon.
Westwood 7, WIC 1
Tuesday at Westwood
SINGLES -- No. 1, Grace Smith (WIC) def. Lyn Magnuson 6-4, 3-6, 6-2; No. 2, Eliisa Doney (WWD) def. Haleigh LeMay 6-0, 6-0; No. 3, Emmi Carlson (WWD) def. Ashlynn Nichols 6-1, 6-1; No. 4, Isabel Belpedio (WWD) def. Anastasiia Dudiak 6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES -- No. 1, Tessa Burke-Ella Stacy (WWD) def. Rochelle Bear-Marlee Benson 6-1, 6-0; No. 2, Ava Wolf-Lauren Michaud-Richards (WWD) def. Jenna Sunn-Brie Poirier 6-0, 6-0; No. 3, Emerson Williams-Samiah LaFreniere (WWD) def. Reese Ahola-Vivian Holm 6-1, 6-1; No. 4, Jenna Marana-Brie Mahaffey (WWD) def. Tessa Stapleton-Zoe Donati 6-1, 6-3
Story contents based on emails received from Marquette Senior High School tennis coach Karl Thomsen and Westwood tennis coach Sarah Zindler. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.