By John George
After a hot, dry summer to start the 2008 season, the Yellow Jacket tennis team faced cool, damp and windy conditions Tuesday as they hosted West Central Area.
Five of the seven matches were decided in straight sets, with WCA winning three and Perham taking two. Emily Lindberg won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles, with the No. 2 doubles team of Danielle Brenk and Brita Sundberg winning 6-2, 7-5.
The final two matches would determine the team winner. At first, it looked as if the Knights would take both three setters, at No. 1 singles and at No. 3 doubles.
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At No. 2 doubles, the WCA?team was on a roll after taking the second set, 6-1. They had a 4-2 lead in the third set before the Perham team of Megan Shipman and Suzanne Coleman came back. Perham's No. 3 team won five of the next six points to take the third set and the match.
That left Amy Pawlowski at No. 1 singles. Pawlowski was trailing 4-1 in the third set before making her comeback. She held serve to make the score 6-5, but lost the next service point. In the third set tiebreak, she scored the first point, then lost the next four. She rallied to make the score 6-5 before Mikayla Paulson held serve to win the match and secure WCA's 4-3?victory.
Home opener
It was a rough morning at the Perham Tennis Courts on Thursday as the Yellow Jackets dropped their first home match of the season to Minnewaska Area, 6-1.
"Minnewaska is a very good team," said coach Kurt Pesch. "We're rebuilding a little this year. Replacing our top-two singles and our top doubles team isn't easy. But we'll get better as the year goes on."
Picking up Perham's only victory was Hannah Brenk, who won in straight sets at No. 4 singles, 6-1, 6-1.
Next
Perham will hit the road today (Sept. 4) to take on Parkers Prairie. From there, Perham will compete in the Brainerd Invitational on Sept. 6. Matches start at 10 a.m.
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On Sept. 8, Mid-State and Section 8A?rival Park Rapids will be in Perham for a dual match starting at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 28
Minnewaska 6, Perham 1
Singles
1. Paulson (M)?def. Amy Pawlowski, 6-1, 6-0; 2. Pfeninger (M)?def. Danielle Brenk, 6-1, 6-1; 3. Mensing (M)?def. Becca Huebsch, 7-5, 6-2; 4. Hannah Brenk (P)?def. Stensrud, 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles
1. Faehnrich &?Jenks (M)?def. Whitney Delaney &?Emily Wurgler, 6-0, 6-3; 2. Thomas &?Johnson (M)?def. Emily Lindberg &?Britta Sundberg, 6-4, 6-0; 3. Fauskee & Jergensen (M)?def. Suzanne Coleman &?Mary Ann Kuebler, 6-2, 6-1.
Tuesday, September 2
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West Central Area 4, Perham 3
Singles
1. Paulson (WCA)?def. Pawlowski, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5); 2. Wagner (WCA) def. Huebsch, 6-4, 6-1; 3. Lindberg (P)?def. Henderson, 6-1, 6-1; 4. Haberer (WCA)?def. H. Brenk, 6-4, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Krusemank &?Byrne (WCA)?Def. Delaney &?Wurgler, 6-4, 6-4; 2. D. Brenk &?Sundberg (P)?def. Sutton &?Hanson, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5); 3. Shipman &?Coleman (P)?def. Rauchbauer &?Gilbertson, 6-1, 1-6, 7-5.
