Tiger tennis team rallies for 4-3 rivalry win

Sophomores Cortney Hallahan and Ashley Lund are only three matches into their varsity tennis careers, but it’s safe to say that Wednesday’s come-from-behind win over a duo from Litchfield to secure a 4-3 dual win was their biggest victory.

The Tigers No. 3 doubles duo led 5-2 in the first set before dropping the next five games. Litchfield’s pair — Becky Farmer and Marin Haugo — jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set, but the Tigers stormed back to force a third set, 7-6.

Hutchinson broke serve and then won the second set tie-breaker, 7-4.

In the end, Hallahan and Lund made more shots, winning the final set tie-breaker style, 7-3.

“We just kept on communicating and being positive with one another,” Lund said. Hallahan said the momentum from winning the second set carried over into the tie-breaker.

Hutchinson went 2-1 in duels on the day. Defending champion Simley was a perfect 3-0, while Litchfield went 1-2 and Redwood Valley was 0-3.

It looked like the Tigers would be defeated for the second straight year (Litchfield won 5-2 in 2007) by the Dragons after three matches were won in third sets by Litchfield. In all three, Hutchinson won the first set of the match.

However, Jamie Voelker and Kate Byron won matches down the street at the junior high courts, while Jenna Juergensen and Katie Haugen held on to bring the score to three.

When Juergensen and Haugen completed their match, the No. 3 doubles team trailed 4-1 in the second set, leaving Hutchinson in a big hole.

Byron, who was the only Tiger to win three matches, is a perfect 5-0 on the season playing at No. 2 and No. 3 singles. Juergensen and Haugen, Rasmussen and Klitzke as well as Voelker are all 4-1.

Hutchinson will compete in a triangular at Willmar with New London-Spicer Thursday.

GIRLS’ TENNIS
Results Wednesday
Hutchinson 7, Redwood Valley 0
Singles — 1. Emily Seller (H) def. Megan Buysse 6-3, 6-3; 2. Kate Byron (H) def. Shelby Gewerth 6-3, 6-1; 3. Taylor Reiner (H) def. Tiffany Raddatz 6-2, 6-0; 4. Jamie Voelker (H) def. Katie Ellingworth 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles — 1. Emily Klitzke/Anna Rasmussen (H) def. Emma Allrunner/Bailey Boots 6-1, 6-4; 2. Jenna Juergensen/Katie Haugen (H) def. Morgan Thalkes/Julianna Passe 6-0, 6-2; 3. Ashley Madson/Stephanie Steenhoek (H) def. Kathleen Perry/Julie Anderson 3-6, 6-1, (12-10).

Results Wednesday
Simley 6, Hutchinson 1
Singles — 1. Taylor Heltner (S) def. Emily Seller 6-3, 6-0; 2. Jamie Golden (S) def. Taylor Reiner 6-1, 6-0; 3. Kate Byron (H) def. Mergan Short 6-2, 6-4; 4. Jessica Barnhart (S) def. Jamie Voelker 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles — 1. Meggin Green/April Ford (S) def. Emily Klitzke/Anna Rasmussen 0-6, 6-4, (7-1); 2. Ashley Jones/Abby Terhaar (S) def. Jenna Juergensen/Katie Haugen 6-3, 6-1; 3. Nichole Steffes/Mickey Teudeau (S) def. Ashley Lund/Cortney Hallahan 3-6, 6-0, (7-5).

Results Wednesday
Hutchinson 4, Litchfield 3
Singles — 1. Chelsie McGraw (L) def. Emily Seller 3-6, 6-3, (7-5); 2. Brenna Johnson (L) def. Taylor Reiner 3-6, 6-3, (7-3); 3. Kate Byron (H) def. Kristin Solbrack 6-1, 6-1; 4. Jamie Voelker (H) def. Brittany Berning 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles — 1. Lizzie Johnson/Ellie Black (L) def. Emily Klitzke/Anna Rasmussen 4-6, 6-3, (9-7); 2. Jenna Juergensen/Katie Haugen (H) def. Anna Johnson/Allyssa Holmgren 6-1, 7-5; 3. Ashley Lund/Cortney Hallahan (H) def. Marin Haugo/Becky Farmer 5-7, 7-6, (7-3).
Records — Hutchinson (4-1 overall).