WEST ISHPEMING — Tight matches were the rule here Monday as the Westwood Patriots edged the Escanaba Eskymos 5-3 in a girls’ tennis meet.

Esky’s Natalie Williams defeated Lindsay Williams 6-2, 1-6, 11-9 in No. 2 singles, and Sam Manninen topped Taylor Jackovich 6-4, 6-3 at No. 4 for her fifth straight win.

In No. 2 doubles, Esky’s Paxton Bullen outlasted Alyssa Prophet and Lexi Olson 6-4, 3-6, 13-11,

“There were plenty of close matches today, with literally every match being close enough to have gone either way,” said Esky coach Chris Ogren. “Natalie Williams was able to beat Lindsay Williams in a close three-set match. Natalie had lost to Lindsay the last two times they played, so it was a pretty huge showing for her today. Natalie’s serve is probably the best on the team, and her net play was dialed in. Paxton stepped in on limited notice to play No. 2 doubles with Delaney, and the pair played very well. Sam was able to continue her terrific play with another straight-set win. and has just continued to improve.”

In another three-set match, Esky’s Lizzy Sliva dropped a 6-1, 1-6, 10-6 decision to Alyssa Corneau.

The Eskymos host Kingsford Thursday.

Singles

No. 1 — Koski, W, def. Derkos, 6-0, 7-5; No. 2 — N. Williams, E, def. L. Williams, 6-2, 1-6, 11-9; No. 3 — Courneau, W, def. Sliva, 6-1, 1-6, 10-6; No. 4 — Manninen, E, def. Jankovich, 6-4, 6-3;

Doubles

No. 1 — N. Prophet-Blanck, W, def. Wickham-Hill, 6-4, 6-3; No. 2 — Bullen-McIntyre, E, def. A. Prophet-Olson, 6-4, 3-6, 13-11; No. 3 — Niemi-Mattila, W, def. Purcell-Maki, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2; No. 4 — Marta-Moffatt, W, def. VanDamme-Newhouse, 7-5, 7-5.