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NEGAUNEE -- Despite what looks like a lopsided final score, Negaunee's 8-0 victory over Marquette in a high school girls tennis meet on Monday was quite competitive with four matches going the maximum three sets.
In addition, two sets were tied 6-6 and had to go to a tiebreaker to determine their outcome.
"We set a goal to improve as a team from the last time we played Marquette and that's exactly what we did," Miners head coach Megan Kerkela said in an email detailing the result. "It really shows that the girls are willing to grind out a match for the good of the team."
Three of the three-setters came in doubles.
At No. 1, Negaunee's Paige O'Donnell and Olivia Richards prevailed over the Sentinels' Eva Kentala and Charlotte Thomsen, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.
At No. 2, the Miners' Maia Brunette and Aubrey Harper won 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 over MSHS' Eva Dewitt and Charlye Swajanen.
And at No. 4, NHS' Emme Niemi and Sydney Jarvi pulled out a 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-4 triumph over Marquette's Grace Jandreau and Brynn Helman.
"Maia Brunette and Aubrey Harper played great ... fighting to win a tough three-set match," Kerkela said. "Even after losing the first set, they remained level-headed.
"This benefitted them greatly when they were down 4-5 in the third set and battled back to win three straight games to help them close out the set 7-5 and win the match."
Additionally, Negaunee No. 4 singles player Katie Carlson fended off Marquette's Sydney Kuhl 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, in the other three-setter.
The Miners coach was also happy with No. 2 singles player Addie Chapman winning 6-4, 6-2 over MSHS' Kirra Longtine.
"Addie Chapman has been the best example of setting a goal and accomplishing it," Kerkela said. "Every time she walks on the court, she knows her job is to win and she does just that.
"She is hitting the ball great right now and improving with each meet."
One other match also had a tiebreaker -- Negaunee No. 1 singles player Stella Lenten held off the Sentinels' Stella Dehlin 6-1, 7-6 (7-5).
Both teams have a handful of meets left before the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 1 are held at the Miners' courts on Sept. 30.
Negaunee hosts a doubleheader today, facing Menominee at 2 p.m. and Munising at 4 p.m. On Monday, the Miners host Escanaba at 4 p.m., then have the Mid-Peninsula Conference meet at Westwood at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
NHS closes out the regular season with a meet at 4 p.m. next Thursday at home vs. Kingsford.
Marquette also plays today, hosting Menominee at 3:30 p.m., then takes on Kingsford at home at 3:30 p.m. Monday. The Sentinels host the Great Northern Conference meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday to complete the regular season.
Marquette 4, Escanaba 4
On Tuesday at Escanaba, the Sentinels split a pair of three-set matches, both coming in doubles, for their second tie against the Eskymos this season.
"I feel like our squad is getting pretty battle tested in three-set matches," MSHS head coach Karl Thomsen said in an email detailing the result.
At No. 2 doubles, Marquette's Swajanen and Dewitt took out Esky's Isabella Noblet and Lily Benetti 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, while at No. 3, the Eskymos' Emma Landwehr and Cora Dittrich held off the Sentinels' Lola Rink and Morgan Downey 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.
"Charlye Swajanen and Eva Dewitt had another nerve-racking match at No. 2 doubles," Thomsen said. "To their credit, when the match got tighter, they upped their level of play and went out and won it."
The coach was also happy with Marquette's other wins by No. 2 singles player Longtine and No. 4 Sydney Kuhl, along with the No. 1 doubles tandem of Kentala and Charlotte Thomsen.
"Kirra Longtine ... and Sydney Kuhl ... played fundamentally sound tennis," their coach said. "Kirra and Sydney both had their feet working.
"Both of these girls are great soccer players and you could see it on the court ... the way they constantly bounced around allowing them to be in position throughout the match.
"I was really happy to see our No. 1 doubles team of Eva Kentala and Charlotte Thomsen play a complete match ... and up their aggressiveness."
Negaunee 8, Marquette 0
Tuesday at Negaunee
SINGLES -- No. 1, Stella Lenten (N) def. Stella Dehlin 6-1, 7-6 (7-5); No. 2, Addie Chapman (N) def. Kirra Longtine 6-4, 6-2; No. 3, Lucy Rogers (N) def. Nora Skytta 6-3, 6-2; No. 4, Katie Carlson (N) def. Sydney Kuhl 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
DOUBLES -- No. 1, Paige O'Donnell-Olivia Richards (N) def. Eva Kentala-Charlotte Thomsen 2-6, 6-4, 7-5; No. 2, Maia Brunette-Aubrey Harper (N) def. Eva Dewitt-Charlye Swajanen 4-6, 6-4, 7-5; No. 3, Bree Helppi-Audrey Hahn (N) def. Lola Rink-Morgan Downey 6-4, 6-4; No. 4, Emme Niemi-Sydney Jarvi (N) def. Grace Jandreau-Brynn Helman 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-4
Marquette 4, Escanaba 4
Monday at Escanaba
SINGLES -- No. 1, Anna Martin (E) def. Stella Dehlin 6-2, 6-2; No. 2, Kirra Longtine (M) def. Olivia Vogel 6-2, 6-0; No. 3, Varrah Veeser (E) def Kaylee Holzer 6-4, 6-1; No. 4, Sydney Kuhl (M) def. Amelia Alimenti 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES -- No. 1, Eva Kentala-Charlotte Thomsen (M) def. Sophia Hill-Claire Jacobsen 6-2, 6-2; No. 2, Charlye Swajanen-Eva Dewitt (M) def. Isabella Noblet-Lily Benetti 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; No. 3, Emma Landwehr-Cora Dittriich (E) def. Lola Rink-Morgan Downey 7-5, 3-6, 6-2; No. 4, Alexa DeGrand-Ava Jackson (E) def. Grace Jandreau-Brynn Helman 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
Story contents based on emails received from Negaunee tennis head coach Megan Kerkela and Marquette coach Karl Thomsen. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.