ALBERT LEA -- The Worthington Trojans girls tennis team officially opened its season Monday with a split of two matches.
Worthington defeated Lyle High School, 5-2, before falling 6-1 against Albert Lea.
In their first match of the day, the Trojans used a sweep of all three doubles contests to spark the victory. The No. 1 doubles team of Jessica Weitgenant and Jenny Mammen defeated Marta Burke and Emma Holstron, 6-1, 6-4. Eric Schutte and Jessica Vuong, at No. 2 doubles, then picked up a 6-2, 6-0 decision over Lauren Riker and Julia Bortemes, and the No. 3 team of Kendall Spartz and Angela Bui defeated Steph Koler and Kristi Sager 6-2, 6-2.
As for singles, Janna Morrow won her No. 1 contest with Sarah Blake, 6-3, 6-1, while No. 2 Raquel Leinen stopped Allison Johnson, 6-2, 6-1.
"They took control of their matches early on," WHS head coach Mike Marquardt said. "There (were) some good points later on where they lost it, but they got it back."
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As for the second match of the day against Albert Lea, the Trojans had a more difficult time, only scoring a victory in No. 4 singles. But the victory marked a turnaround of sorts for Worthington's Sameera Nalla, who bounced back from a 6-3, 6-0 defeat to Mary Kate Barinka of Lyle, picking up a 7-5, 6-2 decision over Holly Bolden.
Nalla, playing in her first matches as a varsity member, worked through some nerves early in the day to pick up the victory. Instead of playing not to make mistakes, she worked hard to overcome any that she did make.
"I basically told her she would make mistakes, but I wanted her to keep trying the best she could," Marquardt said.
The Trojans (1-1) resume the Worthington tournament today at 10 a.m. in Pipestone.
WHS 5, Lyle 2
No. 1 singles: Janna Morrow (W) def. Sarah Blake 6-3, 6-1. No. 2: Raquel Leinen (W) def. Allison Johnson 6-2, 6-1. No. 3: Sophia Hebrink (L) def. Kaylee Williamson 6-3, 6-1. No. 4: Mary Kate Barinka (L) def. Sameera Nalla 6-3, 6-0.
No. 1 doubles: Jessica Weitgenant/Jenny Mammen (W) def. Marta Burke/Emma Holstron 6-1, 6-4. No. 2: Erin Schutte/Jessica Vuong (W) def. Lauren Riker/Julia Bortemes 6-2, 6-0. No. 3: Kendall Spartz/Angela Bui (W) def. Steph Koler/Kristi Sager 6-2, 6-2.
Albert Lea 6, WHS 1
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No. 1 singles: Deseray Jacobs (A) def. Morrow 6, 3, 6-0. No. 2: Niki Hendrickson (A) def. Leinen 6-4, 6-1. No. 3: Holi Hendrickson (A) def. Williamson 6-2, 6-3. No. 4: Nalla (W) def. Holly Bolden 7-5, 6-2.
No. 1 doubles: Cara Thorn/Liz Thompson (A) def. Weitgenant/Mammen 6-4, 6-2. No. 2: Kelli Hanoon/Alaria Maras (A) def. Schutte/Vuong 6-3, 6-4. No. 3: Chelsea Hill/Naomi Holt (A) def. Bui/Spartz 6-2, 6-1.
