Sep. 19—WILLMAR — The Willmar girls tennis team fought hard to earn its first victory of the season against Sauk Rapids on Tuesday.
The Cardinals, behind victories from each of their doubles teams, beat the Storm 5-2.
“This match was a battle,” Willmar head coach Cayle Hovland said. “We are very happy to get the win and are ready for more.”
Willmar’s Heidi Kath and Aubrey Peterson earned a three-set victory at No. 1 doubles, winning 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).
Then the Cardinals’ Nos. 2 and 3 doubles pairings of Lizzy Hoffmann/Katelyn Garberding and Abby VanDerBill/Mikila Johnson each won in two sets, marking the only two matches that did not go to three sets.
The Cardinals won three of the five matches that went into a third set.
Kennedy Mara and Emily Floren won at Nos. 2 and 4 singles to join Kath and Peterson.
Willmar is now 1-6 in the Central Lakes Conference and 1-9 overall. Sauk Rapids is 2-6 and 4-13.
The Cardinals play host to Fergus Falls at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Willmar.
Singles
(1) Sydney Entner, SR, def. Adali Laidlaw 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 … (2) Kennedy Mara, W, def. Leah Roesch 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 … (3) Brielle Karasch, SR, def. Emmie Larson 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 … (4) Emily Floren, W, def. Erica Poganski 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles
(1) Heidi Kath/Aubrey Peterson, W, def. Piper Froiland/Ceceilla Heneke 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) … (2) Lizzy Hoffmann/Katelyn Garberding, W, def. Kaitlyn Burski/Miah Boos 6-2, 6-4 … (3) Abby VanDerBill/Mikila Johnson, W, def. Faith Biorn/Kaia Diallo 6-2, 7-5
Litchfield got wins from three of its singles players to sneak past the Cardinals in a Wright County Conference match at Annandale.
Isla Dille, Maya Wuotila and Emma Wuotila each earned two-set victories at Nos. 1, 2 and 4 singles.
Litchfield’s doubles win came from its No. 1 pairing of Olivia Olson and Emma Knudsen. Olson and Knudsen beat Bryn Fahey and Claire Lampi 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3
The Dragons play host to Glencoe-Silver Lake at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Singles
(1) Isla Dille, L, def. Avery Gagnon 6-3, 6-1 … (2) Maya Wuotila, L, def. Amy Eckstrom 6-4, 6-4 … (3) Lauren Rassier, A, def. Kendra Ball 6-3, 6-2 … (4) Emma Wuotila, L, def. Ella Rassier 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
(1) Olivia Olson/Emma Knudsen, L, def. Bryn Fahey/Claire Lampi 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3 … (2) Emily Hinnenkamp/Emma Wright, A, def. Molly Patten/Lydia Asmus 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 … (3) Ava Townshend/Felicity Fischer, A, def. Tayah Damerow/Brynn Nagel 6-0, 6-1
MACCRAY cruised past Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg behind its singles players at Clara City.
Greta Meyer, Erika Pieper and Makenna Burnette earned wins at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 singles. Elle Kletscher notched a point for Benson/KMS at No. 1 singles.
Elise Duncan and Kya Oakes, at No. 1 doubles, secured Benson/KMS’ other point.
Benson/KMS travels to Montevideo at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. MACCRAY plays host to Morris/Chokio-Alberta/West Central Area at 5 p.m. Thursday at Clara City.
Singles
(1) Elle Kletscher, B/KMS, def. Tayte Nokleby 6-3, 6-3 … (2) Greta Meyer, M, def. Ava Oakes 6-1, 6-0 … (3) Erika Pieper, M, def. Molly Jones 7-6 (5), 6-1 … (4) Makenna Burnette, M, def. Arianna Nagler 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles
(1) Elise Duncan/Kya Oakes, B/KMS, def. Alex Dirksen/Ella Kienitz 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 … (2) Iris Donner/Addie Plaggie, M, def. Addi DeToy/Teagan Froelich 7-6 (3), 6-2 … (3) Mia Shubert/Ava Janssen, M, def. Megan Anders/Ella McGinty 6-2 3-6 6-1
