Netters post big BRC win

• Eric Kromer reaches to return a serve

Hudson senior Eric Kromer reaches to return a serve in the first set of his match against Eau Claire North’s Kevin Curtin Thursday at the high school courts. Kromer dropped the first set 4-6 but came back to win the next two, 7-5 and 6-4 to give the Raiders a 4-3 victory over the Huskies. Bob Burrows photo

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The Raider boys’ tennis team swept all four singles matches, including a three-hour marathon by Eric Kromer at No. 2 singles that clinched Hudson’s 4-3 victory over Eau Claire North in a Big Rivers Conference dual Thursday.

After losing his opening set, 4-6, to North’s Kevin Curtin, Kromer fought off three match points while trailing 4-5 in the second set. He went on to win 7-5, then took the third set, 6-4, to seal the Raider win.

The Raiders’ other three singles players—Max Hawksford, Jeff Dahl and Ben Duerst—had already posted victories while North had swept all three doubles matches. That left the match between Kromer and Curtin to decide the outcome.

“Max, Jeff and Ben were all pretty dominating while Eric prevailed in the match of the day,” Raider coach Dave Dahl said. “He fought off three match points in the second set and was not to be denied after that. After almost three hours, it was awesome to watch Kromer earn his win and wrap up the team victory.”

Hawksford won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 singles while both Jeff Dahl and Duerst posted 6-2, 6-1 victories at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively.

North took all three doubles matches with Alex Lasuik and Andy Mitchell losing 1-6, 2-6 at No. 1, Michael Youderian and Koyla Hawksford falling 2-6, 0-6 at No. 2 and Dominic Meincke and Seth Blum losing 1-6, 3-6 at No. 3.

Coach Dahl admitted he was a little surprised by victory.

“North was probably the stronger team experience-wise, which showed in doubles,” he said. “But our four singles players really came through today. We’ve only got five BRC dual meets before the BRC tourney, so it was huge to get into the win column today.”

Earlier in the week the Raiders posted a 6-1 nonconference victory at Baldwin-Woodville.

Hawksford won in three sets—6-3, 4-6, 6-4—at No. 1 singles while Jeff Dahl won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2. Luke Jepperson nailed down a 6-0, 6-0 win at the No. 3 singles position while Blum won 6-4, 7-6 (3) at No. 4.

The lone Raider loss came at No. 1 doubles, where Kromer and David Nettleton were defeated 6-2, 1-6, 1-6. Duerst and Jimmy Setzer picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 2 spot while Lasuik and Mitchell won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3.

“We can usually count on extra wind in Baldwin and this year was no different,” Coach Dahl said. “I thought the guys played through it pretty well. Baldwin-Woodville was very tough at the top of their lineup.”

The Raiders, now 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the BRC, will travel to Menomonie Thursday, April 22 and compete at the River Falls Quad on Saturday, April 24 beginning at 9 a.m.

Tags: sports, tennis, raiders, prep