ESCANABA---The Escanaba High School girls tennis team completed a sweep of its season series with the Gladstone Braves, winning, 6-2, Tuesday afternoon in Escanaba.
It was Escanaba's first home match of the season, and was an improvement over the 5-3 Eskymo win last week in Gladstone.
Escanaba Coach Chris Ogren says the first doubles match was a highlight.
“Last time we played Gladstone the #1 doubles match went to three sets, but we’ve done some shuffling to our top doubles teams and today Sophie Hill and Claire Jacobsen were dialed in from the start,” he said. “They were the first match to finish today and were able to secure a 6-1, 6-1 win. These two seniors are still adjusting to playing together, and Claire is having to learn to play the deuce side of the court, rather than the ad side, but they certainly looked to be figuring it out today.
Escanaba faced a tougher battle at fourth doubles, but pulled through in the end, sealing the match win.
“Last time these two teams met, Alexa DeGrand and Ava Jackson were able to win in straight sets,” Ogren said. “Today, however, Gladstone’s team had made a player change, and Reese Lovell and Miranda Dreilick got out to a quick start. Gladstone was able to take the first set 6-3 and looked strong in doing so. Alexa and Ava were able to stay calm and continued to play to their strengths. They both played the net well and hustled to every ball. Alexa was able to finish the final set with a really tough volley that she made look easy to finish the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.”
The longest match of the day came at #4 singles, with two freshmen going the distance. Escanaba's Amelia Alimenti faced Gladstone's Aylah Seder. Seder won in straight sets last week, but this time, Alimenti prevailed, after losing the first set. Alimenti won, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Gladstone's two wins came in singles. At #2 singles, Maddy Sundquist defeated Escanaba's Olivia Vogel, 6-1, 6-4. And at #3 singles, Lilly Ketcham topped Eskymo Varrah Veeser, 6-3, 6-3.
Escanaba will host Menominee Wednesday. Gladstone hosts Munising next Tuesday.
