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3rd-set victories spell difference for winning teams

By Steve Brownlee 5 min read

NEGAUNEE -- Prevailing in both matches that went three sets, Westwood pulled off something of an upset against Negaunee with a 5-3 victory at the Miners courts in a high school girls tennis meet held Wednesday.

NHS lost for the first time this season as the Patriots won three of four singles flights while the teams split down the middle in doubles.

But Westwood got three-set triumphs at No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles.

Patriots' top singles player Lyn Magnuson won 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) over the Miners' Stella Lenten, while the WHS No. 2 doubles tandem of McKenna Olson and Lauren Richards prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 over Negaunee's Maia Brunette and Aubrey Harper.

Westwood also won in straight sets with No. 3 singles player Emmi Carlson and No. 4 Izzy Belpedio, along with taking No. 4 doubles that way with Jenna Marana and Brie Mahaffey.

Negaunee's wins came via No. 2 singles player Addie Chapman, the No. 1 doubles pairing of Paige O'Donnell and Olivia Richards and No. 3 doubles duo of Bree Helppi and Audrey Hahn.

The Miners jump right back into action after Labor Day by hosting Kingsford at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Both teams have home meets scheduled at 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Patriots entertaining Gwinn and Negaunee taking on Ishpeming.

Negaunee 6, Marquette 2

On Thursday at Marquette, the Miners bounced back a day after their first loss by winning three of four flights in both singles and doubles.

A big part of that was Negaunee, now with a 6-1 record, winning all three matches that were extended to three sets, each match with the Miners side winning the final two sets.

Those matches included Negaunee No. 3 singles player Lucy Rogers winning a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision over the Sentinels' Nora Skytta, NHS No. 1 doubles pairing of Olivia Richards and Paige O'Donnell taking a 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Marquette's Eva Kentala and Charlotte Thomsen, and Miners No. 3 doubles tandem of Bree Helppi and Audrey Hahn pulling out a 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-3 triumph over MSHS' Lola Rink and Morgan Downey.

"Coming off a loss to Westwood (Wednesday), we knew we needed to play better tennis," Negaunee head coach Megan Kerkela said in emailed comments about this meet. "We were pushed in most of our matches. The girls were able to respond under pressure.

"Lucy Rogers had a tough first set, but battled back and played really consistent in the following two sets.

"I was also impressed with our (No.) 3 doubles team of Audrey Hahn and Bree Helppi. They are really starting to click as a team and hitting the ball well."

Marquette head coach Karl Thomsen was philosophical about the close meet.

"(Thursday) was the type of match where I believe our team can learn a lot from our losses," he said in his comments included with an email detailing the results. "Our girls had good battles in all our flights ... but we let some opportunities get away.

"So, my hope is the next time those opportunities present themselves, we take advantage of them."

He was particularly pleased with his two winners.

"All of our ladies in the No. 4 flights played extremely well," Thomsen said. "Brynn Helman and Grace Jandreau had my favorite type a match; a match where coach doesn't need to say a thing to them because they are playing so well. 

"Sydney Kuhl got out of the gates a little slow, but never showed signs of panic. We are about at the halfway point of the year and I really like the growth Sydney has shown."

Helman and Jandreau prevailed at No. 4 doubles in a 6-0, 6-3 win over Negaunee's Emme Niemi and Caitlyn Jarvi, while Kuhl won at No. 4 singles, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 over the Miners' Katie Carlson.

The Sentinels jump back into action at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday at Escanaba before hosting Gladstone at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Westwood 5, Negaunee 3

Wednesday at Negaunee

SINGLES -- No. 1, Lyn Magnuson (W) def. Stella Lenten 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5); No. 2, Addie Chapman (N) def. Eliisa Doney 6-2, 7-6 (7-2); No. 3, Emmi Carlson (W) def. Lucy Rogers 6-4, 6-2; No. 4, Izzy Belpedio (W) def. Katie Carlson 6-1, 7-5

DOUBLES -- No. 1, Paige O'Donnell-Olivia Richards (N) def. Ella Stacy-Tessa Burke 6-0, 3-2 (retired); No. 2, McKenna Olson-Lauren Richards (W) def. Maia Brunette-Aubrey Harper 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; No. 3, Bree Helppi-Audrey Hahn (N) def. Emerson Williams-Samiah LaFreniere 6-4, 7-5; No. 4, Jenna Marana-Brie Mahaffey (W) def. Chloe Wommer-Sydney Jarvi 7-6 (8-6), 6-0

Negaunee 6, Marquette 2

Thursday at Marquette

SINGLES -- No. 1, Stella Lenten (N) def. Stella Dehlin 6-3, 6-3; No. 2, Addie Chapman (N) def. Kirra Longtine 6-3, 6-0; No. 3, Lucy Rogers (N) def. Nora Skytta 1-6, 6-4, 6-3; No. 4, Sydney Kuhl (M) def. Katie Carlson 7-6 (7-1), 6-1

DOUBLES -- No. 1, Olivia Richards-Paige O'Donnell (N) def. Eva Kentala-Charlotte Thomsen 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5); No. 2, Maia Brunette-Aubrey Harper (N) def. Eva Dewitt-Charlye Swajanen 6-2, 7-5; No. 3, Bree Helppi-Audrey Hahn (N) def. Lola Rink-Morgan Downey 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-3; No. 4, Grace Jandreau-Brynn Helman (M) def. Emme Niemi-Caitlyn Jarvi 6-0, 6-3

Story contents based on emails received from Negaunee tennis head coach Megan Kerkela and Marquette tennis head coach Karl Thomsen. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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