Team depth provides 8-1 win for Lady Vikes

By Becky Walz,

Meeting the Oelwein Huskies at home proved to be a rewarding experience for the Decorah girls’ tennis team Tuesday. Utilizing team depth, the Vikes hustled their way to an 8-1 victory. 
“I cannot say enough about the senior leadership provided by No. 2 Kendra Bigler. She took it upon herself to lead by example in posting a dominating 6-0, 6-1 victory over Laney Smith. It would be difficult to find a player on this year’s team that has shown more improvement from freshman to senior year,” said Coach Larry Berland.
“Liz Clement, playing in her very first varsity singles match, gave her opponent — Kaylie Stewart — all that she wanted in both sets of her No. 6 match. The score may not indicate the super points that were being played. It was back and forth and extremely entertaining. Even though Liz did not come away with the victory, she learned a ton during the match, falling 4-6 and 1-6,” said Berland.
Kristi Kjome-Johnson neutralized Oelwein’s No. 1 Morgan Alber with solid, energetic play, 6-0 and 6-4. At No. 4, freshman Evon Leitz has come on like gang busters as the season has unfolded and defeated Molly Trumblee, 6-2 and 6-1. Paige Lange overpowered Lauren Hamilton with steady play while trying different strokes and varied strategy throughout her No. 5 match.
Kjome-Johnson/Bigler teamed up to win 6-0 and 6-1 over Alber/Smith at the No. 1 doubles spot. Filling the No. 2 slot were Leitz/Allison Pavlovec who defeated Trumblee/Dani Gerstenberger, 6-0 and 6-1. Haley Gossman also played in her first varsity tennis meet at No. 3 doubles. Teamed with Nadia Johnson, the duo took it to the Oelwein doubles team of Stewart/Hamilton in the first set with very aggressive play blanking them 6-0, then winning 6-3.
Next meet will be conference action in Waverly Saturday, April 30.

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