Tiger tennis opens with win over Menomonie

• Chelsea Anderson

Senior Chelsea Anderson has won the number one singles role for the Tigers to start the 2010 season.

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The weather cleared off on Saturday, giving the New Richmond girls tennis team a chance to get in their first match of the season at Menomonie.

The match was a success, with the Tigers scoring a 4-3 win over their Division 1 opponent.

This match starts an early flurry of Division 1 competition. On Monday and Tuesday the Tigers were scheduled to compete in a tournament in Eau Claire where they would play five dual matches against Division 1 teams during the two days of competition.

Menomonie was a good test to start the season because the Indians bring back several top players, particularly at the top of their singles lineup.

That’s where the Tigers ran into their most trouble, losing the top three singles matches.

Seniors Chelsea Anderson and Meghan Frank have been dueling for the top spot in the singles lineup. They faced off twice in practice to see who’d start the season at one singles and Anderson won both matches, earning the right to play at the top spot. Her reward was facing Claire James, one of the top returning players in the Big Rivers Conference.

Frank had a tough draw too. She faced Christina Mollan, who was last year’s BRC and Division 1 sectional champion at three singles.

Maggie Earley had a challenging match in her first attempt at three singles, losing in three sets.

Where the Tigers won, they did so decisively. Junior Hailey Davis, returning to her four singles slot, scored a 6-1, 6-3 win.

The Tigers cleaned house in the doubles matches. Amy Kukacka and Kaycie Anderson had a successful debut at one singles, rolling to a 6-2, 6-4 win.

Seniors Jenny Hudalla and Alina Stai return at two doubles and they had no trouble winning 6-0, 6-4.

There are several girls competing to play in the three doubles positions for the Tigers. Junior Carley Brotzler and freshman Mattie Kidder got the nod to play three doubles at Menomonie, scoring a 6-2, 6-2 win.

The schedule for the Tigers continues this Friday when they will be part of a tournament in Altoona. The Tigers start their Middle Border Conference season next Tuesday with a match at Durand.

New Richmond 4, Menomonie 3

Singles

No. 1: Claire James (M) def. Chelsea Anderson 6-3, 6-0

No. 2: Christina Mollan (M) def. Meghan Frank 5-7, 7-6, 6-4

No. 3: Rosie Buckley (M) def. Maggie Earley 1-6, 6-4, 6-1

No. 4: Hailey Davis (NR) def. Lexi Gourakis 6-1, 6-3

Doubles

No. 1: Amy Kukacka and Kaycie Anderson (NR) def. Allie Hayden and Hailey Willsey 6-2, 6-4

No. 2: Jenny Hudalla and Alina Stai (NR) def. Obaxsa Willsey and Katie Zarbrock 6-0, 6-4

No. 3: Mattie Kidder and Carley Brotzler (NR) def. Hailey Hintz and Megan Olson 6-2, 6-2

Tags: sports, tigers, tennis, prep