By Becky Walz,
The Decorah girls’ tennis team took to the road and registered a strong start to the season with a 9-0 victory over the Osage Green Devils Monday and Oelwein Tuesday.
Monday night
“Thankfully the team had been practicing in high winds for the past two weeks, so the 25 mph gusts didn’t stop their tenacity,” said Coach Larry Berland.
Returning 2019 letter winners Morgan Brauer and Cady Peterson both won their No. 2 and No. 3 singles matches 6-1 and 6-0, with Brauer defeating Grace Mallory and Peterson besting Lauren Swenson. Sophomore, Annalise Skrade, made her high school tennis debut versus Victoria Schwarting with a pair of 6-2 wins in the No. 1 singles position for the Vikings. Mara Holland, Kendra Bigler, and Nadia Johnson won at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 only giving up a combined seven games out of a total 43. Holland faced off with Kaitlyn Olson, while Bigler defeated Kendall Olson and Johnson topped Brooklyn Brock.
“The singles players came out on top as a result of their positive mentality, smart shot selection, and their court positioning. Every one of them hustled down their opponents’ shots and made the next play. They also remained confident in the no-ad deuce points when the game is determined in one point. I just wish I had the stat on how many deuce points went in our favor,” said assistant coach Skrade.
At No. 1 doubles, Annalise Skrade partnered with junior Mara Holland to win 6-2 and 6-2 over Schwarting and Swenson. Peterson and Brauer paired up at No. 2 and looked like they’d been playing together for years, covering the court with ease versus Mallory and Brock. Juniors Kristi Kjome-Johnson and Paige Lange entered the scene at No. 3 doubles and topped their Olson opponents 6-3 and 6-1, improving as the match progressed.
The learning and developing efforts of the JV squad proved rewarding with the Decorah players rotating through and capturing a lot of games and growth opportunities. Each of the girls played three or four matches and improved in every game they played. Haley Gossman won three matches without giving up a single game to her opponents.
Huskies caged
Decorah ventured into Oelwein Husky territory on Tuesday evening and came away with a convincing tennis victory, 9-0. Playing with wonderful conditions save for a gusty wind at times, the Vikes took to the singles courts and dictated play. This was the first varsity match of the season for several of the Vikes, but the girls played like seasoned veterans according to Coach Berland.
Mara Holland elevated her play after being tied 2-2 early and did not surrender another game in her singles match winning 10 games in a row over Oelwein’s Morgan Alber, winning 6-2 and 6-2. Winning 6-0 and 6-1 in the No. 2 slot was Kristi Kjome-Johnson over Laney Smith, while Paige Lange recorded her win by 6-0 and 6-2 sets to defeat Molly Trumblee.
Freshman Evon Leitz filled the No. 4 spot and bested Dani Gerstenberger in 6-1 and 6-2 sets. Allison Pavlovec got her money’s worth in her match against Kaylie Stewart having to win an extended tie breaker in the third set to bring home a victory, 6-2, 5-7 and 12-10. Sophomore Jenna Hartz survived her first varsity match 6-4 and 7-5 over Lauren Hamilton.
“It was a great day for Decorah doubles. Each of the three doubles’ teams were a force to reckon with as their aggressive style of play took over the matches. Hitting strong groundstrokes produced weak returns that became easy targets for the net player to put away,” said Coach Berland.
Teaming up were Lange and Kjome-Johnson against Alber and Smith to win 6-0 and 6-2. In the No. 2 doubles spot were Leitz and Katie Golly for the 6-1 and 6-0 victory over Trumblee and Gerstenberger. Pavlovec and Lexi Averhoff also came away with a victory, defeating Stewart and Hamilton, 6-1 and 6-2.
Saturday
Now the Vikes prepare for the strong teams at the Top Gun Tourney on Saturday, April 10, in Waterloo.
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