STAR JOURNAL REPORT

One day after sweeping a pair of Great Northern Conference matches in Marshfield against Columbus Catholic, the Rhinelander High School girls tennis team won all three of its matches in Friday’s home quadrangular, beating Merrill, 5-2, Ashland, 6-1, and Ironwood, 7-0.

The Hodags’ Belinda Weddle (No. 1 singles), Emma Roberts (No. 3 singles) and Livi Roberts and Haley Seefeldt (No. 1 doubles) all went 3-0 for the quadrangular. Kenedy Van Zile (No. 4 singles) won both of her contested matches in three sets.

“Kenedy has been improving match to match and (Friday) was another step,” said RHS head coach Bob Heideman. “In both matches, she weathered losing the first set, played pretty steady in the second, then used that momentum to win the deciding tiebreaker. As a first year varsity competitor, to have two comebacks in the same day speaks to her emerging maturity.

“Belinda continued her hot streak (by) going 3-0 for the day. Not as sharp as (Thursday), but still enough game to string points together. A little more defensive tennis (Friday) and letting her opponent make the error.

“Emma Roberts put three good matches together. Each opponent played a different style and Emma adjusted well.”

The Hodags, whose season record stands at 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the GNC, next host a conference dual meet Tuesday against Medford.