By Becky Walz,
The Decorah girls’ tennis team took the court on Saturday knowing that if they could survive the Golden Eagle attack by Dubuque Wahlert that they would be regional champs and state qualifiers.
Having already played against the Wahlert contingent at the individual competition on Wednesday, the Vikes knew that they would have to play their best tennis of the year to come away with a victory.
“As is always the case in team play, there are times when things look good and times when things look not so good. The key is to be playing your best tennis when the clock strikes twelve so that you can escape with the glass slipper on your foot. Decorah did just that as they finished super strong and came away with a huge and well-deserved victory,” said Coach Larry Berland.
Annalise Skrade once again raised her strategic play to a new level in her yearlong growth as the team’s No. 1 player. Playing against a match seasoned senior from Wahlert, the first set was very competitive but did not end in Skrade’s favor. Changing her strategy in the second set to a more aggressive mode, the Viking’s relentless attack toward the net forced her opponent into numerous hitting mistakes. With no let-up in sight from Skrade, the Wahlert player saw her hopes of a match victory crash and burn in the deciding super tie breaker, third set.
At No. 2 singles Cady Peterson found herself in a similar situation. Being able to rally from a 0-3 start was going to be extremely difficult, but the senior had the ability to change her game in mid-set, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at her opponent and began to see her opponent struggling with her returns. With that mindset, when something is working why change it, Peterson almost fought back to win the first set. She continued the barrage and claimed a solid victory in the second set.
Meanwhile, Morgan Brauer was doing what she has done in every one of her matches this year — making her opponent move with every shot she hits across the net. As her opponent begins to wear down, Brauer becomes more animated and applies even more placement resulting in the match’s outcome becoming a done deal.
Mara Holland had the strongest showing of the day, as she bettered her No. 4 opponent in straight sets with identical set scores of 6-2, 6-2.
“In the beginning of the year, Mara’s groundstrokes lacked placement and put away strength. Realizing that her strokes were holding her development back, Mara has continually worked hard on them to make them a weapon in her arsenal. Now during her matches, well-placed groundstrokes with some stings have really made her a force at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles,” explained Coach Berland.
Kristi Kjome-Johnson slugged it out with her opponent at No. 5 singles to secure the victory for Decorah. When a team reaches five wins the match is concluded in team play.
“Whoever plays a match against Kristi better have her armor on because Kristi hits a ball with something behind it. If most of Kristi’s shots find home by hitting in the court, her opponents are in for a short match. If on the other hand some of those lasers do not find the court the match can become very interesting. Kristi’s first set found many of her best shots connecting with the court, forcing her opponent to try and defend herself. But in the second set, the Viking’s opponent began to feed different shots toward Kristi and the going got tough. But to her credit, she remembered hearing, ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’ and she battled her way to a second set win and her team’s regional victory and a place as one of the final eight teams in the Class 1A field,” said Coach Berland.
Kendra Bigler ran into a mirror image of herself at No. 6 singles. Refusing to give into the other girl, Bigler was locked in a struggle for survival when the match was called due to Decorah winning the five matches needed for a victory.
“I want to make certain that I thank the coaches for all the behind the scenes work they have done to prepare the girls for the regional victory this year. Miriam Skrade, Kristy Schilling, and Phil Yee have worked tirelessly to make this a season to remember no matter what happens,” ended Coach Berland.
Monday, Decorah battled Cedar Rapids Xavier in the first round of the state tennis team tournament at Independence.
Singles: No. 1 Annalise Skrade (Dec) defeated Caroline Hutchinson (Wahlert) 3-6, 6-0, (10-3); No. 2 Cady Peterson (Dec) defeated Claire Walker (Wahlert) 5-7, 6-1, (10-5); No. 3 Morgan Brauer (Dec) defeated Lilah Takes (Wahlert) 6-2, 6-4; No. 4 Mara Holland (Dec) defeated Lindsey Cummer (Wahlert) 6-2, 6-2; No. 5 Kristi Kjome-Johnson (Dec) defeated Wanti Du (Wahlert) 6-2, 6-4; No. 6 Kendra Bigler (Dec) did not finish versus Hannah Hefel (Wahlert)
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