Wolverines take down 'Jackets, 7-0

HIBBING—It was a good start to the season for the Rock Ridge High School girls tennis team.

The Wolverines only allowed Hibbing to win 10 singles points en route to a 7-0 victory over the Bluejackets Monday at the Lincoln Elementary School Courts.

Rock Ridge is trying to replace some strong graduating seniors, but co-coaches Courtney Rosati and Jess Kralich liked what they saw in their team first match of the 2024 season.

“I wouldn’t say midseason form yet,” Rosati said with laugh. “We have a lot of new girls this season, so it was a good start to see what we can do.”

Rosati concurred.

“We lost a lot of key players last year,” Kralich said. “We’re trying to fill those holes. We have some depth, so it’s a good problem to have trying to figure out who fits where. They had a good mindset, and they were eager and excited to play.

“They were open to any coaching and things like that. It’s fun to see that with the girls that are new this year that we don’t know. It’s how are they going to respond, and how will they support each other as teammates, too?”

At first singles, Aili Fink beat Kenedi Koland 6-1, 6-1; at second singles, Mayme Scott downed Erin McCormick 6-0, 6-0; and at fourth singles, Ellie Dimberio beat Gianna Manning, 6-0, 6-0.

Third singles proved to be quite competitive as Alice Johnson beat Mya McKenny 4-6, 7-6 (4, 10-8 in a super tiebreaker.

“We wanted to push them at three and four singles,” Hibbing coach Gary Conda said. “We knew we were going to have trouble at one and two. Going in we had a chance at all three doubles spots.

“It’s a matter of getting a little more solid, learning now to put the ball away is what it amounts to.”

In doubles, Ayla Troutwine and Emmi Peterson beat Opal Valeri, 6-4, 6-0; Matti Seppi and Nina Paulsen downed Bella Jaynes and Ava Bougalis, 6-1, 6-4; and Kiri Milos and Ava Dahle beat Brylee Conda and Kori McCormick 7-6 (5), 6-4.

“I thought they played well for their first match,” Kralich said. “We typically have our first match the first Saturday, but we swapped it out for something different this year. Having a change in the schedule and not playing anybody but each other, I was happy with how they came out and played today.

“This early, we’re looking at who jives together, who fits a position well, what doubles teams work where they have chemistry. They have to have confidence in the spot we put them in. They came out with a positive mindset. They were ready to roll.”

The Bluejackets, who had three matches over the weekend, had too many missed opportunities.

“We had about a dozen per match,” Conda said. “There were chances. I haven’t quite seen what I want to see yet. I knew they were a little deeper than us, but we were trying to find a way to win a singles point. We came close.

“I’m slightly disappointed in how the doubles performed, but I’m confident we’ll get better in doubles as the season goes. They have some good athletes. You have to give them credit.”

Rock Ridge 7, Hibbing 0

Singles: No. 1—Aili Fink, RR, def. Kenedi Koland, 6-1, 6-0; No. 2—Mayme Scott, RR, def. Erin McCormick, 6-0, 6-0; No. 3—Alice Johnson, RR, def. Mya McKenny, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 10-8; No. 4—Ellie Dimberio, RR, def. Gianna Manning, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles: No. 1—Ayla Troutwine-Emmi Peterson, RR, def. Opal Valeri-Heidi Rasch, 6-4, 6-0; No. 2—Matti Seppi-Nina Paulsen, RR, def. Bella Jaynes-Ava Bougalis, 6-1, 6-4; No. 3—Kiri Milos-Ava Dahl, RR, def. Brylee Conda-Kori McCormick, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Forest Lake 6,

Hibbing 1

HIBBING—The Bluejackets only picked up one singles win in the loss to Rangers Monday.

Rasch got the lone win at third singles, beating Maren Walinga 7-6 (2), 7-5.

Forest Lake got singles wins from Lucy Saari over Koland, 6-0 6-2; Petra Ziedler over Valeri, 6-1, 6-0; and Mikayla Dennison over Bougalis, 6-2, 7-6 (5).

In doubles, Allie Siebenaler and Rylen Kissea beat Manning and McKenny, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3; Grace Kaufman and Audrey Haanpaa downed Jaynes and Erin McCormick, 6-4, 6-2; and Kenzie Romero and Morgan Eirck beat Iris Hendrickson and Kori McCormick, 6-3, 7-5.

Forest Lake 6, Hibbing 1

Singles: No. 1—Lucy Saari, FL, def. Koland, 6-0, 6-2; No. 2—Petra Ziedler, FL, def. Valeri, 6-1, 6-0; No. 3—Rasch, H, Maren Walinga, 7-6 (2), 7-5; No. 4—Mikayla Dennison, FL, def. Bougalis, 6-2, 7-6 (5).

Doubles: No. 1—Allie Siebenaler-Rylen Kissea, FL, def. Manning-McKenny, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3; No. 2—Grace Kaufman-Audrey Haanpaa, FL, def. Jaynes-Erin McCormick, 6-4, 6-2; No. 3—Kenzie Romero-Morgan Einck, FL, def. Iris Hendrickson-Kori McCormick, 6-3, 7-5.