RHS 3-0 in GNC

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

The Rhinelander High School girls tennis team remained undefeated in Great Northern Conference play Tuesday when the Hodags won at home over Medford, 6-1.

“We had several close sets and a three-setter which luckily went our way,” said RHS head coach Bob Heideman. “That turned the match around. Medford put its best players in doubles which produced some good matchups.”

The Hodags, who won all four singles matches in straight sets, dropped one or fewer games in seven of those eight sets. Alex Oestreich won her first set 7-5 in No. 2 singles over Elaine Schumacher before closing out the match with a 6-1 victory in the second set.

“Alex had some trouble early with her serve and got behind in the first set,” Heideman said. “To her credit she steadied herself…”

RHS’s Haley Seefeldt and Livi Roberts needed three sets in No. 1 doubles to defeat Medford’s Karlee Batchelder and Lauryn Strick, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3.

“At No. 1 doubles (we) had to come up with a spurt of good tennis and some late clutch shots to pull out the three-set win,” Heideman said. “The first set (Seefeldt and Roberts) played from behind the whole set, then put a string of good points together in the tiebreak to win the set.  In the third set, Haley hit a down-the-line shot and Livi hit a half volley that proved instrumental in winning the set.”

The Hodags’ other doubles victory involved Savannah Chartier and Jackie Wells winning their No. 3 doubles match in straight sets over Medford’s Grace Geiger and Hailey Kollmansberger, 6-0, 7-6.

“Recently No. 3 doubles has had some rollercoaster matches where they start strong and have a second set letdown,” Heideman said. “It cost them in Merrill, but they were able to take the second set (Tuesday).  Savannah hit several pivotal volleys in the tiebreaker.”

Following the team victory over Medford, RHS’s season record stands at 3-0 in the GNC and 8-3 overall going into Thursday’s home conference match against Phillips.