WORTHINGTON -- The Worthington Trojans girls tennis team had its first home match of the season Thursday at Minnesota West. The result was not what the doctor ordered.
River Valley -- formerly known as Sleepy Eye in tennis-- took all four singles matches and one of three doubles contests, pulling away to a 5-2 victory in its first dual match of the season.
"They moved the ball really well, placed it a bit better than we were accustomed to," WHS head coach Mike Marquardt said. "We weren't able to take advantage as much as we'd like to."
Worthington's biggest success came in the doubles. The No. 1 team of Erin Schutte and Jessica Vuong lifted their level of play after a close first set against Katherina Basch and Kelli Johnson, winning their match 7-5, 6-2. At No. 2 doubles, the duo of Kaylee Williamson and Jessica Weitgenant were also victorious, picking up a 6-2, 6-0 decision over Jocelyn Stage and Nicole Felton.
The Wildcats' only doubles victory came at No. 3, where the team of Jacque Olson and Jessica Little rallied to defeat WHS's Angela Bui and Laura Johnson, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
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Olson and Little looked to be in trouble early on, after letting a 5-2 first set lead slip away. But the team regrouped and played stronger in the final two sets to get the decision.
In singles play the Wildcats continued to have success, using a change in strategy to help spark their play, going for a patient approach instead of an aggressive, attacking style.
And when the opportunities came for River Valley, the team didn't let them slip by. Sonni Seller defeated Janna Morrow at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-2, Cassie Jarvis followed at No. 2 with a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Raquel Leinen, Amy Altmann defeated Jenny Mammen at No. 3 singles, and Jordan Rathman finished off the day with a 6-1, 6-1 victory against No. 4 Sameera Nalla.
In junior varsity play, Maddie Tate won her singles match 6-0, Amy Schutte was victorious, 6-0, while Sabrina Klein fell in her match, 6-1. Amy Schutte and Klein then played a doubles match, winning 6-2.
Worthington (1-2) moves forward to a doubles tournament today in Fairmont before another dual Tuesday at St. James.
RV 5, WHS 2
No. 1 singles: Sellner (RV) def. Morrow 6-3, 6-2. No. 2: Jarvis (RV) def. Leinen 6-2, 6-3. No. 3: Altmann (RV) def. Mammen 6-2, 6-0. No. 4: Rathman (RV) def. Nalla 6-1, 6-1.
No. 1 doubles: Schutte/Vuong (WHS) def. Basch/Johnson 7-5, 6-2. No. 2: Williamson/Weitgenant (WHS) def. Stage/Felton 6-2, 6-0. No. 3: Olson/Little (RV) def. Bui/Johnson 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
