September 28, 2018 at 1:04 p.m.
Hodag tennis takes strong record vs. Valley into subsectionals
Hodag tennis takes strong record vs. Valley into subsectionals
Part of that feeling is only natural, as the Hodags host a the Division 1 subsectional Monday for the first time in more than a decade. The other factor is that Rhinelander has fared well against the WVC so far this season.
All of that has the Hodags feeling confident heading into Monday's meet.
"We're healthy. I think we are confident that we can get some girls through because of the season we've had," coach Bob Heideman said Wednesday. "We've played these teams and done well. I hope we can take it the next step."
The top four finishers in the No. 1 singles and doubles flights on Monday, and the top two finishers from every other flight, will move on to next Wednesday's sectional round in Eau Claire. Essentially, that means the Hodags will need to win only one match to advance in the No. 1 flights, and two matches everywhere else.
That's where seeding comes into play. It's unlikely Rhinelander will receive any No. 1 seeds, given 7-0 loss to WVC-champion Stevens Point in Green Bay Sept. 1, but Rhinelander fared well against the rest of the conference this season, going 8-1 against the conference (the Hodags defeated Wausau West and Merrill twice). Those performances should help the team secure strong seeds in virtually every flight.
"In the subsectionals, we pay for our sins. In other words any loss to a Valley school is going to percolate up during this (seeding) meeting," Heideman said. "This year that's a little less true than usual in terms of those solid records we have at some of the lower positions."
In particular, the Hodags are expecting strong seeds in a number of the lower flights. Kenedy Van Zile (No. 3 singles), Kaylee Pontell (No. 4 singles) and Savannah Chartier/Jackie Wells (No. 3 doubles) all went 8-1 against the Valley this year, with their lone losses coming to Stevens Point. Rhinelander's No. 2 doubles team of Alexis Pyrchalla and Madi Losch went 7-2 against the Valley, which included a loss in a supertiebreaker against Marshfield Sept. 1.
Heideman expects the No. 1 doubles team of Annika Johnson and Haley Seefeldt to be in the running for either a third or fourth seed, with their 6-3 record against the Valley.
"For us, if we would get three or more positions through, that would be a pretty darn good day," Heideman said.
The sledding may be the most difficult for Alex Oestreich at No. 1 singles (3-6) and GNC tournament heroine Emma Roberts at No. 2 singles (4-3).
"No. 2 (singles) seems to be a very tough position, mainly because of the Point girl (Anna Hlavac) and the girl from Wausau West (Lilia Teske), and the girl from East (Lea Ratanawong)," Heideman noted. "That's probably the deepest position in relation to what we have."
Roberts lost twice to Teske and in straight sets to Ratanawong. She did not face Hlavac when Rhinelander played Stevens Point.
Wet week
The Hodags were hoping to use this week for their final preparations before subsectionals, but Mother Nature threw a wrench into those plans as practice was hampered by rain Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The team played a non-conference dual against Ironwood, Mich. on Friday and Heideman said the team may practice today and tomorrow to make up for the rainouts.
With every cloud there is a silver lining. For Rhinelander, Heideman said the time off may help the team transition from a dramatic Great Northern Conference championship victory over Antigo.
"I think the key is to refocus from that conference (tournament), all the energy that went into that, and look at what we might be able to do in the subsectional," he said. "I think that's the key to this week."
Home sweet home
The RHS boys' tennis team has hosted subsectionals each of the last two years and has benefited from its home courts, finishing in a first-place tie in 2017 and second place this past spring.
Heideman is hoping for a similar effect for his girls' team. "I think the girls are real excited about it," he said, referring to hosting the subsectional "Often times this is a long road trip."
The pre-tournament seeding meeting will take place at 9 a.m. at RHS, with play slated to start at approximately 10 a.m. The eight main courts at the high school, along with the six auxiliary courts between RHS and James Williams Middle School, will be utilized for the tournament.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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