Raider tennis team on fire, wins 7 of 8 in busy week

The busy start to the season won’t slow down anytime soon for the Raider girls’ tennis team.

After winning seven of eight matches last week, the Raiders will play eight more matches this week, including their home opener against Eau Claire Memorial Thursday, Aug. 26 at 10 a.m.

The Old Abes handed Hudson its only loss last week, a close 4-3 decision Monday at the Eau Claire Memorial Invite. The Raiders rolled through their other four matches, beating New Richmond 5-2, Beaver Dam 6-1, Eau Claire North 6-1 and River Falls 7-0.

Saturday the Raiders saw River Falls again at the River Falls Quad and posted a 6-1 victory over the Wildcats. They followed that up with a 5-2 win over Woodbury and a 7-0 victory over Chisago Lakes.

“The girls were tough all week long,” head coach Dave Dahl said. “Many of the scores look a bit one-sided, but most of the matches were much closer than the finals indicate.”

Hudson has eight more matches lined up this week beginning with a two-day tournament at Green Bay Southwest this past Monday and Tuesday. Thursday they open Big Rivers Conference play at home against Eau Claire Memorial at 10 a.m. while Saturday, Aug. 28 they travel to the Menomonie Quad for a 9 a.m. start.

Dahl called this week the toughest on the Raider schedule.

“We’ll have to attempt some, or all of it, shorthanded as Nicole Buechler is injured,” he noted. “She’s played the top singles or doubles spot, and it’s never easy to replace the lineup.”

So far this season, Whitney Theisen and Casey Fall are both off to 11-0 starts while Morgan Karras is 10-1. Morgan Van Allen and Jenny Fassbinder are both 9-2.

Dahl said he likes the way the team has responded when it’s been pressed early in the season.

“The team has done a great job of keeping it together mentally, which is central to success in tennis,” he said.

Dahl also said winning 13 of 14 matches against River Falls so far this season has been significant. The two teams will meet in BRC play in Hudson next Thursday, Sept. 2.

“The Wildcats have a senior-dominated team and they’re coming together pretty well right now,” he said. “I expect a real battle with them when we play our BRC dual next week.”

For now, Dahl said the team is focusing on its BRC ope ner at home against Eau Claire Memorial Thursday.

“We look forward to another shot at Memorial,” he said. “They had the advantage at their place, but we’ll try to put some pressure on them when they come to Hudson.”

Tags: sports, tennis, raiders, prep