August 25, 2022 at 7:02 a.m.
Tennis: Hodags bounce back to win final four at West Invite
Tennis: Hodags bounce back to win final four at West Invite
The Hodags were swept by Stevens Point and Hudson in their first two matches Monday, but bounced back with a 7-0 win over Green Bay Preble and then won all three of their matches on Tuesday, upping their record to 6-9 overall on the year.
Rhinelander earned tight 4-3 wins over Wausau East and Pulaski Tuesday and added a 5-2 victory over River Falls.
"I think that's some of the best tennis I've seen them play," coach Matt Nichols said after Tuesday's matches. "We played three solid teams and, after so many competitive matches, I think our game has improved a lot and, today, our mindset improved a lot. We were able to capitalize on some close matches."
Tori Riopel had the best individual tournament for the Hodags, going 4-2 at the No. 1 singles flight. Following straight-set losses against SPASH and Hudson, the junior rebounded with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Green Bay Preble's Briana Reiver and then dropped a total of seven games Tuesday en route to three straight-set wins.
"She has a really nice finishing shot with her backhand, so I think just her overall game play and her finishing shots are coming along nicely. Her serve is also a nice weapon," Nichols said.
The Hodags swept doubles on their way to victory over Wausau East. Taylor Riopel and Paige Oleinik won 6-0, 6-0 at the top flight, Kayla Tessman and Helena Wisner were 6-0, 6-1 winners at No. 2 and seniors Olivia Jones and Amber Bramm earned the clinching point with a 6-2, 6-1 win in the third flight.
Rhinelander also clinched the Pulaski match at No. 3 doubles, where Bramm and Echo Gustafson held off Mikalah Due and Hailey Jansen 7-5 6-4. Tori Riopel, Kelsey Winter and Shayla Coppenger scored commanding straight-set wins in the top three singles flights against Pulaski.
Following a tough start to the season against some strong non-conference competition, Nichols credited the team's mental toughness for its ability to pull through and get some tight victories on Tuesday.
"Just getting a couple of wins under out belts built some confidence, but just getting in the routine of playing games again, and close games," he said. "That Bay Port tourney, a lot were kind of one-sided and it was what it was. Here there were some close ones. We got some closer games and they fought through and competed hard. I think six matches earlier and six matches at this tournament, just the experience helped them grow with their mindset. I talked with a couple of them about it as well, so it's fun to see that improve."
The Hodags swept singles Tuesday against River Falls and added a win by Tessman and Wisner at No. 2 doubles.
Winter and Coppenger each went 3-3 in the tournament at Nos. 2 and 3 singles.
"Kelsey, I think I saw some of the biggest improvement with her, just her consistency," Nichols noted. "She's done a really nice job finding a groove and being able to hold rallies much longer and then also finish rallies, even from the base line, which I had not see her do before.
"Shayla, at No. 3 singles, just overall consistency but, with her, I think she's starting to develop a nice slice. She was one today where she had some of the most competitive and longest points and she was able to get two wins out of the day."
Tessman and Wisner went 3-2 together at No. 2 doubles. Wisner sat out the final match Tuesday against Pulaski. Tessman and Jones lost that match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
"They've just grown a lot, as a pair and I'd say, out of all of doubles, they communicate the best and that was excited to see," Nichols noted.
Oleinik and Taylor Riopel were 2-4 at No. 1 doubles. Dawsyn Barkus and Evelyn Sawyer each picked up a win at No. 4 singles. Sawyer was also 1-1 in matches at No. 3 doubles with Brooke Sisel.
Rhinelander returns to Wausau today to begin another two-day invitational, its final multi-team event before the Great Northern Conference tournament Sept. 24 at Lakeland.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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