The Merrill girls swung into a new season last week, and immediately collected their first win in the first round of Saturday’s eight-team Eau Claire Husky Invite. The MHS girls topped Chippewa Falls 4-3.
A strong Hudson squad brought the Bluejays back to earth in a 7-0 semi-final defeat. The host Eau Claire North squad then undercut Merrill for third place in a thrilling 4-3 match.
“This year we were more equivalent in doubles and singles,” MHS coach Janet Thompson said. “Last year we were so dominant in doubles.
“We’ll be devoting more time in practice to improving our serving. It needs improvement.”
Merrill captured the Chippewa Falls’ match with true singles and doubles balance. Chloe Krahn won 6-3, 6-2 at the #2 spot and Megan Smith prevailed 7-6, 6-3 at the #3 position. Katie Purmal and Kayla Sutton won 6-2, 6-4 at #2 doubles, and Sarah Lentz and Frances Moonen pulled out a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 match at #3 doubles.
Annie DeBroux was edged 6-4, 4-6, (10-3) at #1 singles and Ariel Hinz lost 4-6, 6-2, (10-3) at the #4 spot. Ashley Ollhoff and Morgan Thompson were defeated 6-7, 6-4, (10-6) at #1 doubles.
“I thought we played very well,” Thompson said. “Chloe and Megan played strong matches. Chloe won with her strong serve and accurate, well-placed shots, while Megan wore down her opponent with her consistency.
“At #2 and #3 doubles, we had four girls playing their first varsity matches. I didn’t see a lot of nerves affect their play as both won in straight sets.”
Huskie hedge
The third-place match with Eau Claire was locked in a 3-3 tie with one match to go.
“That was a real nail-biter,” Thompson said. “It was down to the last match on the courts.
“Annie had come back to win the second set. I felt she had the momentum going into the tiebreak, but her opponent came out real fast. That’s the thing about the tiebreaker. If you come out fast it’s a huge advantage.”
DeBroux lost a 10-4 tiebreaker after splitting 6-3 sets. Merrill had the upper hand with Krahn (6-7, 6-1, [10-8]) at #2 singles, Ollhoff/Thompson (6-7, 6-4, [12-10]) at #1 doubles and Purmal/Smith (7-5, 6-1) at #2 doubles.
The Jays also dropped matches at #3 singles with Hinz (6-4, 0-6, [13-11]), #4 singles with Sutton (6-3, 6-4) and #3 doubles with Lexi Grzanna/Moonen (6-0, 6-4).
Raided
Hudson showed dominant form in the winners’ bracket semifinal.
Merrill’s best chances for a win against the Raiders came at #2 doubles with Ollhoff/Smith in 7-5, 4-6, [10-6]) defeat and from Sierra Smith at #4 singles in a 7-5, 6-4 loss.
“We were simply out-played by Hudson,” Thompson said. “We only won one set. That was tough.
“They have a lot of depth. They are able to put great players at every spot, pretty much.”
Thompson did like Ollhoff and Smith’s effort.
“They took that match to the 10-point, super tiebreak,” she said. “Honestly, they played hard.”
Eau Claire Regis ended up winning the tourney with a 6-1 triumph over Hudson.