May 8, 2017 at 1:17 p.m.
Hodag netters go 1-3 at Wausau Invite
Hodag netters go 1-3 at Wausau Invite
The Hodags dropped a pair of close 4-3 decisions to Green Bay Preble and Bay Port Friday. Rhinelander swept Pulaski 7-0 Saturday morning before losing 5-2 to Green Bay Southwest.
"After playing four schools from Green Bay, we are reminded again that the further south you go the better the tennis gets," coach Bob Heideman remarked.
Matt O'Melia, playing No. 3 singles, was Rhinelander's only undefeated player over the weekend. He won all four of his matches in straight sets. His most challenging opponent proved to be his first. O'Melia needed a second-set tiebreaker to dispatch Preble's Jed Robertson 6-2, 7-6.
"Matt is steady and hits nice angles, which run his opponents side-to-side (and) eventually tires his opponents," Heideman said.
Markus Johnson, at No. 2 singles, recorded three wins over the weekend. His bid to go 4-0 was stopped in a 6-4, 6-3 loss to Green Bay Southwest's Ben Fredeen. Russell Benoy also went 3-1 at No. 4 singles, winning his final three matches following a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Preble's Graham Kothbauer in the opener. Connor Young and Jared Haug won two matches together in the second doubles flight.
"We play these long days to get better and Jared Haug and Logan Oestreich (No. 3 doubles) took the biggest bump," Heideman said. "Jared played with more energy at the end of the day and that helped him focus and Logan is just picking his spots better. Cade Aschenbrenner also showed improvement in his court positioning."
With Marshall Bessette out of the lineup over the weekend, Oestreich had three different partners at No. 3 doubles - Aschenbrenner, Freddy Wisner and Reese Flores. Oestreich and Aschenbrenner picked up a three-set win Saturday morning over Pulaski's Luke Jarock and Rory Sarenich, 3-6, 6-4, 10-7. The top doubles team of Grant Gilbert and Jared Fabich also needed three sets to beat the Pulaski tandem of Garrison Clark and Nolan Curry 4-6, 6-1, 10-7.
The Hodags (12-8, 7-0 Great Northern) now gear up for a GNC showdown against Antigo Tuesday at the Rhinelander High School tennis courts. Rhinelander's guaranteed at least a six-point lead over the Red Robins entering Tuesday's match, pending a triangular between Antigo, Medford and Phillips Monday afternoon that concluded after deadline. The Hodags will need to win at least three matches Tuesday to assure themselves of first place in the GNC standings heading into Saturday's conference tournament, also held in Rhinelander.
"We are ready for the big week coming up," Heideman said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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