Hodags win two 3-setters to complete GNC sweep

MEDFORD GIRLS TENNIS

The Medford Raiders sent two matches to third sets but were unable to secure a victory in a 7-0 loss Monday at Rhinelander.

The result left both teams at 1-1 at the time early in Great Northern Conference girls tennis play for 2022, though the Hodags added a 5-2 win at Stevens Point Pacelli on Tuesday.

According to Medford head coach Jake Bucki, the Hodags were better than the Raiders Monday, but he felt “they weren’t 7-0 better.”

The closest match of the night came at number-three doubles. Medford seniors Chloe Werner and Kierstyn Halopka took the first set against Hodag seniors Olivia Jones and Amber Bramm 7-5, but the Rhinelander duo rallied in the last two sets 6-0, 7-5 to take the match.

“The three doubles match was really good and evenly contested,” Bucki said. “That one likely goes our way half of the time. Kierstyn and Chloe did an excellent job flushing that second set from memory and getting focused for the third set.”

At number-four singles, Rhinelander’s Dawsyn Barkus won the first set 6-0 over Raider senior Christine Czeshinski, but Czeshinski evened things up with a 6-4 win in the second set. Barkus took the third set 6-3 to take the match.

“Christine’s match was almost the opposite of three doubles during first two sets,” Bucki said. “She just kept competing and started to frustrate her opponent during second set and forced a third set.”

Tori Riopel beat Medford’s Morgan Huegli 6-2, 6-3 in flight-one singles play, while Kelsey Winter won a competitive 6-3, 6-3 match with Raider Makayla Motte in flight two. Shayla Coppenger won a close match with Medford’s Audrey Ruesch at number-three 6-3, 6-4.

“Makayla had some very high points in her match and, if she can play that consistently through the entire match, she will give herself an opportunity,” Bucki said. “Audrey continues to learn more and more about singles matches. She was essentially playing against herself in her opponent and her opponent just had one more tool in her bag with coming to the net.”

Taylor Riopel and Helena Wisner downed Medford’s Masaeda Krug and Myah Smith 6-3, 6-3 at number-one doubles, while Paige Oleinik and Kayla Tess- mann defeated Alyssa Brandner and Eryka Seidl in the number-two match 6-1, 6-3.

“Masaeda and Myah’s score was a bit deceiving,” Bucki said. “Each game was very close and both sets were at 3-4, but Rhinelander got the break and served the set out. That is the same duo that beat Lindsey Wildberg and Sophie Brost (Medford’s 2021 state qualifiers) 6-0,6-1 last year, so it is a quality team.”

The trip included plenty of JV action as well. The highlight for Medford was wins for its top four singles players, Jaylin Machon at number-one, Indya Mann at number-two, Marcy Razink at number- three and Grace Holmes at numberfour.

Medford, now 3-6 overall, gets conference play into full swing over the next week. The Raiders will host Newman Catholic today, Thursday, as well as Stevens Point Pacelli on Tuesday in 4:30 p.m. dual meets. They’ll got to Marshfield to face a much-improved Columbus Catholic squad on Sept. 8.

Altoona Invite

For the second straight year, rain wreaked havoc on the two-day Altoona Invitational, canceling play on Saturday. The Raiders did get two dual meets in on Friday and dropped both of them.

Huegli was a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Aspen Sage at number-one singles in West Salem’s 6-1 win over the Raiders. Medford came close in two more singles matches. Eva Clements went overtime to defeat Motte in flight two 4-6, 6-4, 11-9, while Natalie Graham edged Ruesch at number-three 7-5, 6-4. Taylor Burch won the number-four match 6-1, 6-2 over Czeshinski.

The Panthers took all three doubles matches in straight sets. Megan Johnson and Dylynn Bayer beat Krug and Smith 6-2, 6-1, Elly Goodenough and Kate Skaar beat Seidl and Brandner 6-4, 6-1 and Emily Bell and Rebekah Knudson defeated Werner and Halopka 6-1, 6-3.

Eau Claire North swept Medford 7-0. Huegli took the first set against Morgan Presler 6-1 in the number-one singles match, but Presler rallied with 6-1, 10-6 wins to take the match.

Kailey Bates beat Motte 6-0, 6-0, Olivia Feltes beat Ruesch 6-1, 6-3 and Isabelle Rabideaux downed Czeshinski 6-0, 6-1.

Leah Nelson and Miah Nelson were 6-1, 6-1 winners over Smith and Krug, Alyssa Dayton and Gretel Elvig defeated Seidl and Brandner 6-0, 6-2 and Clare LaFave and Ally Quaschnick held off Halopka and Werner 7-5 in the first set before cruising 6-0 in the second set.

The Raiders went back to Altoona on Wednesday to make up for Saturday’s rainout by playing the host Railroaders and Osceola.