Rough week may benefit netters

The Raider girls’ tennis team faced some pretty stiff competition last week, but head coach Dave Dahl said he thinks the team will be better because of it.

Hudson went 1-3 at the two-day Green Bay Southwest Tournament last Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 23 and 24, with two of their losses coming against teams Dahl believes will be in the state tournament at the end of the year.

They went on to drop a 5-2 decision to defending Big Rivers Conference champ Eau Claire Memorial in their conference opener Thursday before going 2-1 Saturday at the Menomonie Round Robin Invitational.

Last Monday, the Raiders opened the Green Bay Southwest Tournament with a 6-1 victory over Onalaska, sending them to the winners’ side of the bracket where they lost to host and eventual tournament champion Green Bay Southwest, 5-2, Kenosha Tremper, 6-1, and Neenah, 4-3.

“I knew we’d be in for some pretty tough matches,” Dahl said about moving to the winners’ bracket. “Both Green Bay Southwest and Kenosha Tremper have teams that will probably play in the state tournament. Our record took a hit over there, but I think we’ll be better down the road having faced that type of competition.”

Thursday against Eau Claire Memorial, the Raiders posted wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, but the Old Abes swept in singles play on their way to a 5-2 victory.

“Whitney Theisen and Morgan Karras, at No. 1 doubles, and Casey Fall and Jenny Fassbinder, at No. 2 doubles, played some great tennis in their wins,” Dahl said. “Eau Claire Memorial had the edge in singles and put themselves in the driver’s seat early in the BRC season. I don’t see them losing any of their remaining BRC matches.”

Saturday in Menomonie, the Raiders dropped a close 4-3 decision to Winona before ending the week with wins over Menomonie, 4-3, and La Crosse Central, 7-0.

“We lost a couple tiebreakers in singles matches and let the Winona match slip away,” Dahl said. “In a week where wins were tough to get, it was nice to grab the last two of the week.”

The Raiders, now 13-6 overall, 0-1 in the BRC, return to BRC dual action Thursday, Sept. 2 at home against River Falls, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, they visit Rice Lake before returning home to host Eau Claire North on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

“We’ve got some real battles ahead in the BRC,” Dahl said. “With our experience the last couple of weeks, I think the girls are ready.”

Tags: sports, tennis, raiders, prep