Tennis rolls to two BRC wins

The Raider girls’ tennis team picked up a pair of Big Rivers Conference wins last week, defeating Menomonie 6-1, last Tuesday and River Falls, 7-0, Thursday.

The Raiders, now 2-1 in the BRC, 15-6 overall, will host Eau Claire North Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 4 p.m.

Last Tuesday at Menomonie, Hudson won three of four singles matches and all three doubles matches in the 6-1 victory over the Indians.

“Menomonie’s strength was in the top three singles spots, so I was very happy to take two of those three matches,” head coach Dave Dahl said. “Our two Morgans were just outstanding today in leading the team to victory.”

Morgan Van Allen posted a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 2 singles while Morgan Karras won 7-5, 6-3, at No. 3 singles. Racheal Knoke picked up the Raiders’ third singles win, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 4 spot.

“Racheal was asked to be patient at four singles and did exactly that in cruising to her win,” Dahl said.

In doubles play, the No. 1 team of Casey Fall and Jenny Fassbinder rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 victory and the No. 2 team of Whitney Theisen and Chelsea Buechler won 6-2, 6-1, while the No. 3 team of Lauren Duffy and Kelsey Scharfenberg posted a 6-4, 6-4 win.

“We were counting on three doubles wins today and the girls made it happen,” Dahl said.

Thursday the Raiders swept River Falls, 7-0, at home.

“The whole team needs to be commended today for the way they played,” Dahl said. “We had many close matches with River Falls the last time we saw them. For the most part, we controlled things from the get-go today.”

Nicole Buechler cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 1 singles and Van Allen won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 while Chelsea Buechler pulled out a 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 3 and Knoke won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4.

In doubles competition, Theisen and Karras teamed up for a 6-3, 6-1 victory at the No. 1 spot, Fall and Fassbinder won 6-4, 6-0 at No. 2 and Duffy and Scharfenberg won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3.

“The girls played with a lot of confidence,” Dahl said. “River Falls has some very good doubles teams. To not drop a set in doubles today was a nice accomplishment. Nicole, Morgan and Racheal picked up solid wins in singles, while Chelsea showed great resolve in her comeback win.”

Dahl said he likes the progress the team has made since dropping its BRC opener to Eau Claire Memorial.

“The girls have done a nice job of preparing themselves to play,” he said. “If they keep pushing each other in practice, hopefully there will be more good things happening down the road.”

Tags: sports, tennis, raiders, prep