Cyclone girls tennis picks up back-to-back wins to start week
HARLAN — After opening the season with three consecutive losses, the HCHS girls tennis team has turned things around with back-to-back victories over Red Oak and Glenwood.
The Cyclones earned their first win of the season Friday, edging Red Oak 5-4 before returning home Monday and picking up a convincing 7-2 victory over Glenwood.
Against Red Oak, HCHS and the Tigers split the six singles matches, with Sophie Freund, Claire Bieker and Kerrigan Kruse each earning victories.
Freund and Bieker both won 8-1, while Kruse added an 8-1 victory.
The Cyclones then won two of three doubles matches to secure the team victory.
Chloe Swensen and Mariajose Guerrero Luna picked up an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles, while Bieker and Kruse teamed up for an 8-3 victory at No. 3.
HCHS carried that momentum into Monday’s matchup with Glenwood, again winning four of six singles matches.
Swensen earned a 9-6 victory, Freund won 8-1, Bieker posted an 8-0 shutout, and Kruse came through with an 8-6 win.
Freund commented on what was working well for her Monday night.
“I would say the wind was really on my side and was just working with how the wind was moving, and my serves were working well,” Freund said.
Freund said the two wins have also helped build her confidence.
“Tennis is a big mental sport, so I would say confidence is really big, so the couple of wins I’ve had have been big,” Freund said.
Bieker also commented on what was working well for her.
“I think my backhand and forehand were doing really good today. I focused on the rotation of it, and that really helped,” Bieker said.
Bieker said the elements can also play a big role in tennis.
“You definitely have to think about them, especially when it’s windy. I see what side it’s windy on, and then by then I decide if I go harder or softer with my racket, but yeah, it’s a factor,” Bieker said.
The Cyclones were even stronger in doubles, sweeping all three matches. Swensen and Guerrero Luna won 8-2 at No. 1, Freund and Allison Retzlaff followed with an 8-5 victory at No. 2, and Bieker and Kruse completed the sweep with an 8-1 win.
The two victories moved HCHS to 2-3 on the season after the Cyclones began the year 0-3.
HCHS was unable to keep the winning streak going Tuesday, falling 5-4 to Carroll on the road.
The Cyclones won two of the six singles matches, with Claire Bieker and Kerrigan Kruse picking up victories. Bieker earned an 8-3 win, while Kruse came through with an 8-2 victory.
HCHS then won two of three doubles matches, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the four singles losses. The No. 2 doubles team of Sophie Freund and Allison Retzlaff earned a 9-8 victory, while Bieker and Kruse added an 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles.
Chloe Swensen and Mariajose Guerrero Luna fell 8-3 at No. 1 doubles.
The loss moved the Cyclones to 2-4 on the season after opening the year 0-3 and winning two straight against Red Oak and Glenwood.
The Cyclones continued a busy week on Thursday night at home against Audubon before hosting another home match on Monday when they will take on St. Albert at 4.
