Tennis sweeps first two in sections

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The Rosemount girls tennis team swept through the first two rounds of the Class 2A, Section 3 team tournament last week with 7-0 wins against Park and Eastview.

At first glance, it would seem the Irish are prepared as they try to repeat as section champions.

Since day one this season, Rosemount’s goal was another trip to the state tournament, fresh off last season when they qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history.

Yet, 7-0 wins can be deceiving.

The Irish didn’t breeze through their second-round match with rival Eastview. But pulling out the 7-0 win might have been just what Rosemount coach Dana Beck needed to see.

“The overall match score clearly did not demonstrate how close this match was,” Beck said. “We had four matches, including all three doubles teams that had a slow start and lost the first set. We started to play better in the second set in all four of the matches and things turned around in our favor.”

The first team to pull out a three-set victory after losing the first set might have given the Irish all the momentum they needed.

Makayla Newberry and Layna Mestad lost their opening set 2-6 at No. 1 doubles, but followed up with 6-3, 6-2 wins to take the match.

“Their third set win started a domino effect on the other matches still being played,” Beck said. “Each of them seemed to settle in, and one-by-one, we won all of the remaining matches. It was a great team effort.”

Heather Castner and Megan Harrington dropped their opening set, but came back to win 7-5 and 6-4 in the next two sets. Rachel Olson and Emily Harrington lost 3-6 in the first set, but then took a pair of 6-4 sets.

At No. 3 singles, Kristen Hoffman was following the same path as the doubles teams. Hoffmann lost 2-6 in the opener, but rallied for 6-3, and 6-0 wins.

Virginia Norder won 6-0, 6-1 at first singles. Ally Baker added a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles, and Mariah McGivern won 6-2, 6-4 at fourth singles.

The victory put Rosemount into the semifinals this week against Prior Lake. The Irish are the No. 2 seed and faced the third-seeded Lakers earlier this week.

Results were not available at press time. Go to www.rosemounttownpages.com for results.

In the opener, the Irish swept Park, 7-0.

Norder, Baker and McGivern each had 6-0, 6-0 wins in singles play. Hoffmann won 6-1, 6-0.

Newberry and Mestad combined for a 6-0, 6-1 win. Castner and Megan Harrington won 6-1, 6-0. Olson and Emily Harrington won 6-0, 6-2.

Tags: sports, rosemount, prep, tennis, irish