New Ulm

advances

by Tigers

NEW ULM -- After defeating the Marshall Tigers 6-1 during the regular season, New Ulm High Eagles coach Pat Reedy knew he had a little room to work with.

So he got some reserve players some potentially valuable varsity and playoff experience. And it didn't hurt the results as New Ulm High decisioned Marshall 4-3 in the girls Section 2-2A tennis playoffs Wednesday.

"I would've been red-faced, certainly, had we lost," Reedy said. "I've got quite a bit of confidence in the kids we have. We played some kids that might not normally get varsity experience."

New Ulm High (11-6) and Marshall split the singles matches with the Eagles' Allison Sprung and Meghan Reedy winning their matches in straight sets. New Ulm High also got wins in doubles from Shannon Gorres and Alisha Witt, and Leah Pederson and Theresa Schuck.

Reedy cruised in her No. 3 singles match with the Tigers' Melanie Clark, dispatching Clark 6-0, 6-0. Sprung didn't take much longer to dispose of Marshall's Kari Markell at No. 2, decisioning Markell 6-3, 6-1.

"Allison played one of their better hitters," Reedy said. "She's really hitting the ball deep and her approach shots are really coming. She's really playing well."

In the other two singles matches, Anna Gutman topped New Ulm High's Brittany Gorres 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 and Marshall's Heather Buesing won by default over Katie Prochniak after winning the first set 6-4.

Shannon Gorres and Alisha Witt trounced the Tigers' Jennifer Andres and Jessica Henkleman at No. 1 doubles without dropping a game. At No. 2 doubles, Pederson and Schuck dropped only two games in a 6-1, 6-1 romp over the Tigers' Lacy Scholten and Candice Grams.

Marshall's Sara White and Mary Jo Maxwell outlasted the Eagles' Jennifer Harmening and Tracy Shuck 7-6 (12), 6-4 at No. 3 doubles.

"It's good when all your players get an opportunity to contribute," Reedy said.

New Ulm High will now host the winner of the Hutchinson-Fairmont match in a Section 2-2A playoff match Wednesday.