NHS girls tennis takes LHC dual

GRINNELL — Collecting a team victory to open Little Hawkeye Conference action, Newton High’s girls had a good day on the tennis courts against host Grinnell. The Cardinals defeated the Tigers, 7-4.

“This was a great win tonight for the girls. There were lots of close matches, and we were very happy to come away with a big win,” Newton head coach Erick Zehr said. “Grinnell is always tough. They are a well-coached, deep team with a rich history, so any time you can get a win against them you appreciate it.”

Newton posted wins in four of the six singles’ matches. Katie Wyre won the No. 2 singles match 6-2, 6-2 over Grinnell’s Alissa Stallman. Sierra Griffth won the No. 3 singles, rallying to force a third-set tiebreaker over Grinnell’s Taylor Kirby, 3-6, 6-2 (1).

The Cardinals’ Katherine Thorpe netted a 6-1, 6-4 decision over Holly Deserrano at No. 4 singles. Madison Humphrey defeated Grinnell’s Morgan Brennecke, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 6 singles.

Grinnell’s Maddie Krumm edged out Newton’s Megan Pressgrove, 7-5, 6-4, in the No. 1 singles match. The Tigers’ Macy Harris won the No. 5 singles match 6-0 6-0 over Newton’s Elizabeth Myers.

“A big key for us was having a couple girls come back after dropping the first set to win the second and force a tiebreaker,” Zehr said. “The No. 5 doubles ended up clinching the meet for us, which was huge since they were down early, and it looked like the meet might end 6-5 either way.”

Kinzie Loree and Leah Thomas were the No. 5 doubles pair for Newton. They defeated Reanna Campbell and Brennecke, 4-6, 6-4, (1).

Pressgrove and Wyre notched a 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles over Krumm and Cici Douglas. Newton won the No. 2 doubles match 6-2, 6-2 with Griffith and Thrope beating Grinnell’s Kirby and Deserrano.

Grinnell’s Stallman and Amanda Arensdorf won the third-set tiebreaker over Newton’s Myers and Humphrey, 6-4, 4-6 (1).

Newton’s varsity plays at 4:15 p.m. Thursday at Pella Christian in LHC action.

Newton’s junior varsity won 10-5 Tuesday against Grinnell. All matches were doubles.

JV results are:

Newton’s Harlie Durr and Natalie Camp won 6-4; Rylie Bakalar and Baumgartner won 6-1; Durr and Bakalar lost 6-4; Stacie Sanger and Isabella Leach won 6-5; Sommer Markham and Haley Walton won 6-4; Rachel Mullikin and Haley Rinehart won 6-3; Bakalar and Durr lost 6-4; Rinehart and Mullikin lost 6-4; Anna VanDam and Mullikin lost 5-4; Sanger and Leach won 6-2; Markham and Walton lost 6-0; VanDam and Rinehart won 6-1; Leach and Sanger won 4-3; Sanger and Leach won 6-0, Markham and Walton won 6-2.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com