April 19, 2024

Newton girls snag win in LHC play

By Jocelyn Sheets

Alexis Hoffman delivers a return shot at the net with doubles partner Emily Valtman in behind her during the No. 4 doubles match against Grinnell on Tuesday at Aurora Heights Park. Hoffman and Valtman won to help Newton High’s girls collect a dual victory. (Jocelyn Sheets)

Playing at home for the first time this season, Newton High’s girls netted a 6-5 win over visiting Grinnell in Little Hawkeye Conference tennis action Tuesday. The teams were tied 3-3 after the singles matches.

Newton won the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 doubles matches to claim a second straight dual and open conference play with a victory. Newton is 2-2 overall.

Bethany Baumgartner has settled in at No. 3 singles for the Cardinals. She improved to 4-0 by rallying to beat Grinnell’s Aleah Kastendick, 6-7 (7-10), 6-1 (10-7). Natalie Camp did much the same at No. 4 singles, beating Morgan Brennecke 3-6, 6-1 (10-8).

Baumgartner and Camp combined to win No. 2 doubles 6-3, 6-0 over Grinnell’s Alissa Stallman and Gillian Ferguson. Stallman lost 6-1, 6-0 to Newton’s Megan Pressgrove in the No. 1 singles match. Ferguson outlasted Newton’s Linzie Loree, 4-6, 6-1 (10-2) at No. 5 singles.

Katherine Thorpe at No. 2 singles and Harlie Durr at No. 6 singles each lost in a third-set tiebreak. Macy Harris beat Thorpe, 7-5, 6-7 (5-10) (10-3). Ramsey downed Durr 6-4, 4-6 (10-2).

Thorpe and Pressgrove teamed up to win at No. 1 doubles for Newton. They beat Harris and Kastendick 6-2, 6-7 (4-10) (10-7).

Newton’s Emily Valtman and Alexis Hoffman came up with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Cici Duga and Bagnoll at No. 4 doubles. Grinnell’s Brennecke and Reanna Campbell notched a 6-7 (7-10) 6-2 (10-6) win over Newton’s Loree and Durr at No. 3 doubles.

The No. 5 doubles match was a tight one.. Ramsey and Baumann slipped past Newton’s Katie Suttek and Rylie Bakalar, 7-6 (10-4), 6-4.

Newton hosts Pella at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday in LHC play at Aurora Heights Park.

Here are the Newton junior varsity matches against Grinnell: Malarie Zach and Kallista Rogers lost 6-1; Madison Bleeker and Ashley Loehr lost 6-4; Haley Rinehart and Jaysea Miller won 6-5; Hayley Sinclair and Bailey Sparks lost 6-2, Kaylee Cross and Kaitlyn Noel lost 6-2, Anna VanDam and Sadie Steinbach lost 6-5; Cristal Perez and Bayleigh Hughson lost 6-5; Briahna Teague and Kaiah McNeely won 6-1, Kaitlyn Barnes and Jacie Nida won 6-1.

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