VIRGINIA—The Rock Ridge girls’ tennis team came in with a strong attitude, upped their level of play and finished points when they needed to on Thursday as the Wolverines moved on in the Section 7AA Tournament with a 6-1 win over Forest Lake.
The win sends Rock Ridge into next week’s 7AA semifinals where they’ll take on the winner of Blaine and Hibbing.
Looking at how the team performed, co-head coaches Jessica Kralich and Kortney Rosati thought the Wolverines noticeably stepped up their play from Tuesday’s playoff opener.
“I thought most of our kids came out looking strong,” Kralich said. “Some of them played one of the better matches we’ve seen all year from them. Looking at them individually and as doubles teams, I think they really came out ready to play today.”
“The girls are progressing through section play really well,” Rosati added. “They came in strong today. There’s always some nerves knowing that each step is tougher than the last but I think the girls really stepped up today. They gave us that confirmation that they could do this. We knew they could but they showed it and they really took it up a level compared to what they did on Tuesday and we have no doubt they can step it up again next Thursday.”
In doubles, the top Rock Ridge tandem of Ayla Troutwine and Mattelyn Seppi got things done in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-4 over the Rangers’ Allie Siebenaler and Rylan Kissell. At the No. 2 spot, Emmi Peterson and Alice Johnson cruised 6-2, 6-0 past Grace Kaufman and Maren Wallinga.
Finally, at third doubles, Ava Dahl and Kiri Milos were pushed to a third set, but had no issues closing things out in that final set as they downed Leah St. Martin and Morgan Einck 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.
In singles, Nina Paulsen came back after losing the first set, winning her fourth singles match 5-7, 6-1, [10-4] against Forest Lake’s Mikayla Dennison. At the No. 3 spot, seventh grader Ellie Dimberio made short work of her Ranger opponent, securing the point for Rock Ridge 6-2, 6-1 over Audrey Haanpaa.
At No. 2 singles Alli Fink cruised in the first set and edged out Petra Ziedler in the second set to get the win for the Wolverines 6-0, 7-5.
Finally, at the No. 1 spot, Forest Lake’s Lucy Saari picked up her team’s only point of the match, defeating top Rock Ridge player Mayme Scott in an exciting 6-2, 7-5 affair. Despite the loss to Saari, both Rock Ridge coaches agreed that a tough battle wasn’t a bad thing for Scott at this point in the season, win or lose.
“Seeing a player like that, it builds her game so much,” Kralich said. “That was one of the better games I’ve seen out of Mayme this year and she looked strong throughout. Playing someone at that level is only going to help her grow.”
“It’s super important for her to have a game like that,” Rosati said, “The matches coming up aren’t going to get any easier so it’s good for her to play a really tough player like Lucy and be pushed. She’ll be a better player for it.”
Enjoying the perks of being the No. 2 seed, the Wolverines will once again get to play on their home court next Thursday when they host either Blaine or Hibbing in the 7AA semifinals. No strangers to travel, the chance to play in front of a home crowd is something the coaches are thankful for.
“It’s so exciting because it brings in a lot more of our community,” Rosati said. “We have to travel quite a ways throughout the season so it pumps the girls up to get to play on their home court. They know their friends and family are coming and they know people from the tennis community will come to support them. You kind of feel proud to play in front of your home crowd and do well. It pumps them up and I think it will again next Thursday.”
Rock Ridge 6, Forest Lake 1
Singles: No. 1 Lucy Saari, FL, def. Mayme Scott 6-2, 7-5; No. 2 Alli Fink, RR, def. Petra Ziedler 6-0, 7-5; No. 3 Ellie Dimberio, RR, def. Audrey Haanpaa 6-2, 6-1; No. 4 Nina Paulsen, RR, def. Mikayla Dennison 5-7, 6-1, [10-4].
Doubles: No. 1 Ayla Troutwine/Mattelyn Seppi, RR, def. Allie Siebenaler/Rylen Kissell 6-2, 6-4; No. 2 Emmi Peterson/Alice Johnson, RR, def. Grace Kaufman/Maren Wallinga 6-2, 6-0; No. 3 Ava Dahl/Kiri Milos, RR, def. Leah St. Martin/Morgan Einck 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.
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