Tennis: Girls tennis opens playoffs with momentum

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After three straight losses in mid-September, Rosemount tennis coach Dana Beck hoped to spark some momentum heading into the playoffs.

Beck experimented with her lineup, trying to find the best mix of singles and doubles before the team section tournament started this week.

With three matches last week to wrap up the regular season, the Irish sure head into the playoffs on a high note.

Rosemount swept Apple Valley and Bloomington Jefferson 7-0 last week, and then earned a 6-1 win against Eden Prairie in a makeup of a rain-shortened meeting earlier this year.

The victory against Apple Valley clinched fourth place for the Irish in the South Suburban Conference.

“It was a great win and it was a good finish and reminder of our slogan this year, ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’” Beck said. “It was a special day for the team as it was a celebration of our seniors for their last home conference match.”

The final week boosted Rosemount (15-4, 7-3 South Suburban) in the section seeding. The Irish were the No. 2 seed in the section tournament and opened play against No. 15 seed Park with a home match this week.

Results were not available at press time. Go to www.rosemounttownpages.com to see how the Irish fared in their opening match.

“I am excited to see the section matchups, and if we play well as a team, I am confident that we will be very competitive in team sections this year again,” Beck said.

Eagan earned the top seed in the section tournament. Rosemount is the defending section champion.

Against Apple Valley, Virginia Norder won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 singles. Ally Baker won 6-1, 6-3 at second singles, continuing her solid run this season.

Baker was undefeated at No. 3 singles earlier in the year and went 3-0 after moving to second singles.

Kristen Hoffmann won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and Mariah McGivern won 6-4, 6-1 at fourth singles.

Makayla Newberry and Layna Mestad won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles against the Eagles. Heather Castner and Megan Harrington won 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 at second doubles, and Sherry Gao and Emily Harrington earned a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles.

Norder swept a 6-0, 6-0 decision at first singles against Bloomington Jefferson. Baker won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Hoffman was unbeaten at third singles, winning 6-0, 6-0. McGivern took a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles.

Newberry and Castner teamed up against the Jaguars for a 7-5, 6-1 win at first doubles.

Mestad and Megan Harrington won 6-1, 7-5 at No. 2 doubles and Emily Olson and Emily Harrington won 6-0, 6-1 at third doubles.

Tags: sports, rosemount, tennis, prep, irish