JACKSON, Wis. – The Yellowjacket women's tennis team has put its three-match losing streak in the rearview mirror.
With strong play in both the doubles and singles portions Sunday, the Yellowjackets earned their second victory of the 2023 season, defeating Wisconsin Lutheran 6-2 at the Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness Club in Jackson.
The Yellowjackets (2-6, 0-1 UMAC) will now be off until they take their game to Florida next week.
To open the day the Yellowjackets two-of-three matches in the doubles portion of the draw.
Jessi Kukowski (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown) and
Shelby Hanson (Albert Lea, Minn./Albert Lea Senior) teamed up to defeat Sky Pope and Isabelle Hawley in an 8-7 barn burner. The Yellowjackets took the match by the slim margin of 7-5 in the tiebreaker.
There was a little less drama at No.3 doubles, as
Daylyn Drew (Negaunee, Mich./Negaunee) and
Brooke Wilfong (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech) had little trouble Alethia Schmidt and Mary Meghrian, winning 8-4.
In the singles matches, the Yellowjackets got a win from No. 1
Andreina Tejada (Quito, Ecuador/Isaac Newton). The freshman swept Jena Smith by identical 6-2, 6-2 scores. At No. 2 singles,
Marina Dostal (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) dropped her first set to Hawley 3-6, before roaring back to take the second set 6-1. She fell in the deciding tiebreaker, 6-10.
Courtney Brandt (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids Senior) also went the tiebreaker route at No. 3 singles, and unfortunately, came up just a little short like Dostal. Brandt won the opening set over Schmidt, 6-4, before falling in the second set, 3-6, setting the stage for the tiebreaker that Brandt dropped 8-10.
Wilfong continued her winning ways at No. 4 singles, taking down Pope in straight sets, 7-6 (7-5) and 6-3.
At No. 5 singles
Haley Quick (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail High School and Academy) earned her first win of the season, defeating Meghrian convincingly, 6-3, 6-0. And at No. 6 singles, Kukowski earned her second win of the weekend, defeating Haley Olson in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Next up for the Yellowjackets is a trip to Florida and a date with WIAC foe UW-La Crosse Monday, Mar. 13. The first service is set for 8 a.m. CST from the Fort Gatlin Recreation Park in Orlando, Fla.
