Braves’ tennis earns split with Maroons
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GLADSTONE -- The Gladstone and Menominee girls' tennis teams pulled off a split in singles and doubles here Tuesday, finishing the meet in a 4-4 tie.
"(This was) our second tie of the year," Braves' coach Ryan Barron said. "We need to get over that hump and get the win. I've told the girls that every point counts, and the next point could start that important run."
The Braves (0-1-2) finished the match with No. 1 and No. 3 singles in their pocket. Andie Balenger earned a win against the Maroons' Jenna Nolde in straight sets at No. 1, 6-1, 6-4.
Gladstone's Kate Matthews pulled in a win at No. 3 against Lauren Caylor-Nelson, 7-6(4), 6-1.
"Kate Matthews has had tough matches the last few days, going three sets with Escanaba only to get rained out at a 3-3 tie on Monday," Barron explained, "and today she went into a tie break with Lauren Caley-Nelson in the first set. Kate made a few adjustments and found her groove in the second set and finished her off."
Menominee's Josie Hofer took control in the first set of No. 2 singles after it was tied at 2. She then earned four straight games to take the first set from Gladstone's Alaina Trudeau and finished off the match with a 6-0 second set.
"They showed absolute progress, and that's the whole goal of the season: to have fun and learn the game," Maroons' coach Erin Antilla said. "If we can win, great, but we're going to do our best."
Bella Lavin of Menominee (1-0-2) defeated the Braves' Lilly Griebel at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-2.
"The girls are coming along," Antilla said. "All the girls did really well today."
Only one of eight matches went the distance, and it was the Maroons who earned a win at No. 1 doubles. After pulling ahead 2-1 in the first set, Gladstone's Marnnea LaFave and Olivia Saari were overtaken by Menominee's Abbie Anglehart and Meghan Francour winning five straight games. Saari and LaFave found a groove in the second set, winning three straight games and taking the set 6-1. Anglehart and Francour then shut the Braves out in the final frame.
The Maroons also took No. 2 doubles as Milena Lavia and Emma Anderson went up 3-0 in the first set to eventually win it 6-2. Gladstone's Emma Delaire and Emily Marenger fought back in the second set, briefly pulling ahead 4-3. Lavia and Anderson then won two straight to take the lead 5-4, eventually winning the tiebreaker 7-5.
The Braves won No. 3 and No. 4 doubles to complete the split. Alesha Marenger and Sara Eolila came back from a 5-4 deficit in the first set to win the tiebreaker 7-5. They controlled the second, losing just one game.
"Alesha Marenger and Sara Eolila got their first win of the season today," Barron said. "The girls have been working hard trying to fine-tune their games, and it finally came together today."
Emma Wagner and Taelor Zeise of Gladstone earned a win over Menominee's Anna Nerat and Kennedy Olson at No. 4 doubles in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.
"Emma Wagner and Taelor Zeise have been consistent all year," Barron said. "I talked to the girls prior to the match and told them to be aggressive early and take control. They did just that and powered through.
"I'm pleased with the improvements that I'm seeing in the girls. Each and every girl on the team wants to improve and in turn, help the team. If adjustments need to be made, they make it."
Gladstone travels to Negaunee while Menominee travels to Suamico, Wis. today.
Singles
No. 1 -- Balenger, G, def. Nolde, M, 6-1, 6-4; No. 2 -- Hofer, M, def. Trudeau, G, 6-2, 6-0; No. 3 -- Matthews, G, def. Caylor-Nelson, M, 7-6(4), 6-1; No. 4 -- Lavia, M, def. Griebel, G, 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles
No. 1 -- Anglehart-Francour, M, def. LaFave-Saari, G, 6-2, 1-6, 6-0; No. 2 -- Lavia-Anderson, M def. Delaire-E. Marenger, G, 6-2, 7-5; No. 3 -- A. Marenger-Eolila, G, def. Doyle-Endeson, M, 7-5, 6-1; No. 4 -- Wagner-Zeise, G, def. Nerat-Olson, M, 6-1, 6-3.