Packer tennis rises to the challenge from Waseca
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 24, 2002
The Austin girls' tennis team had been without a strong challenge from a top-tier team until Monday, when a rescheduled match with Waseca saw the Packers post a 5-2 victory against some hefty competition.
Three of the seven matches went three sets, and another included a tie-breaker as the Packers moved their overall record to 10-2 this season.
"This is a good win against easily one of the three best teams we've played this year," said AHS first-year coach Dave Handeland. "The only loss they've had this year was against Lourdes.
"This team is in Section 2 and is likely going to get the No. 1 seed and make it to state, so any time you can play and beat a state caliber team it says good things about our girls."
Amy Kelly moved up in the latest Class AA individual rankings to No. 9, cruising to a straight-set 6-0, 6-0 victory over Ashley Clark at No. 1 singles.
Katie Erickson pulled off a three-set win at No. 2 singles, and Caitlin Jurgenson came back from a first-set loss for the No. 3 singles victory. The No. 2 doubles team of Lisa Bue and Steph Bowe also made the comeback from a first-set defeat.
"Some of our girls haven't been challenged for a whil3e so today was a good battle, luckily we were able to hold on and win," Handeland said. "It was really windy and that made me nervous because the only other match with wind that we've had was the loss to USC."
The challenge came just in time for a busy week, with two Big Nine Conference duals on tap starting today at Mankato West. The Packers (10-2, 6-1) host Rochester John Marshall in their final regular-season dual Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the Wescott Tennis Courts.
Results:
Singles
Amy Kelly def. Ashley Clark, 6-0, 6-0.
Katie Erickson def. Rachael Steustud, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.
Caitlin Jurgenson def. Katie Flor, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Leann Ketelson (W)def Angie Flaherty, 6-2, 6-0.
Doubles
Molly Erdmann and MacKenzie O’Neil (W) def. Claire Johnson and Noelle Wiebelhaus, 7-5, 6-2.
Lisa Bue and Stephanie Bowe def. Elizabeth Hanson and Steph Conway, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Margaret Wagner and Betsy Hingeveld def. Jill Johnson and Brooke Flattum, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.