Tennis: Osakis opens with win over Melrose
By: Eric Morken, Alexandria Echo Press
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The Osakis tennis team got a new season started in a familiar way as the Silverstreaks won 5-2 over Melrose in the morning match of their home quadrangular on Monday.
The Silverstreaks were scheduled to play two more matches the same afternoon.
“It was great to get the season off to a winning start,” head coach Ryan Maddock said. “Especially against a quality section opponent like Melrose. I thought all of our girls played well for the first match of the season.”
Some of those players were jumping onto the varsity scene as Osakis tries to replace five graduated letter winners off of last year’s state tournament team. Lauren Silbernick and Angie Bowman were the lone seniors in the lineup on Monday morning as both secured wins to help their team earn the victory.
Silbernick teamed up with Alexa Hoffarth at first doubles and won in a third set over Madison Rausch and Elaine Kraker. The Osakis duo won the tiebreaker 10-4 after going 6-2, 4-6 in the first two sets.
Bowman took over the third singles spot and won in straight sets. She took care of Jailyn Brinkman 6-2 in the first before putting her away 6-4 in the second.
A familiar face that hasn’t changed from last season is Taylor Kraemer anchoring the singles lineup at the No. 1 spot. The junior had to work hard against section foe Michaela Worms to earn a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win.
Kraemer and Worms put together some long rallies in a first set that was a tale of two halves. Worms struck first on her way to a 5-1 lead. Kraemer showed off her experience in battling all the way back to win the first set in a tiebreaker. That changed the tone of the match as she went on to run away with the second set.
The win gave Osakis two wins in the singles lineup before the doubles lineup secured the match by sweeping all three spots. Elyse Wiener and Katelyn Foster made quick work of their opponent at the second spot in their first time playing together at the varsity level. Peyton Garcia and Katie Anderson also won by a 6-1, 6-1 score at third doubles to help their team kick the season off on the right foot.
“It was great to see our two seniors, Lauren and Angie, open their seasons with impressive play,” Maddock said. “Taylor showed a lot of determination in coming back from down 1-5 in the first set to win her match at first singles. All of our doubles teams played very well.”
MATCH RESULTS
Osakis 5, Melrose 2
SINGLES – No. 1 – Taylor Kraemer (O) def. Michaela Worms, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1; No. 2 – Grace Braug (M) def. Hannah Baker, 6-2, 6-1; No. 3 – Angie Bowman (O) def. Jailyn Brinkman, 6-2, 6-4; No. 4 – Kennedy Meyer (M) def. Hannah Szech, 7-6 (9-7), 6-1; Exh – Ashley Kraemer (O) def. Sheila Poepping, 6-4, 7-5
DOUBLES – No. 1 – Lauren Silbernick/Alexa Hoffarth (O) def. Madison Rausch/Elaine Kraker, 6-2, 4-6, (10-4); No. 2 – Elyse Wiener/Katelyn Foster (O) def. Ashley Zenzen/Elisha Engelmeyer, 6-1, 6-1; No. 3 – Peyton Garcia/Katie Anderson (O) def. Kelly Kennedy/Katie Schulzetenberg, 6-1, 6-1
Eric Morken
Eric Morken started as a sports reporter for the Echo Press on July 9, 2007. He is a graduate of Augustana College in Sioux Falls where he majored in journalism and minored in history and communications. In his spare time, Morken enjoys hunting and fishing or just being in the outdoors. He is also an avid Minnesota sports fan. Follow Sports Reporter Eric Morken on Twitter at @echo_sports. Read Eric's sports blog, More with Morken at Areavoices.Tags: osakis sports, sports, silverstreaks, girls, tennis
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