By Staff
DOWAGIAC – The Dowagiac varsity tennis team opened its season with a shutout of visiting South Haven in Wolverine Conference action on Wednesday.
The Chieftains and Lady Rams braved the cool temperatures and strong, gusty winds to complete the match.
Dowagiac blanked South Haven 8-0.
Winning singles matches for the Chieftains were Ami Sarao, Elizabeth Kolden, Michelle Urbanski and Macy Howard.
All four singles players won in straight sets.
Howard's match was the most exciting as she won a tiebreaker in the second set 7-2.
In doubles matches, Dowagiac won in straight sets at the first, second and fourth flights.
The Chieftain team of Alex Schuster and Chelsea Allison, who was moved up from the junior varsity for Wednesday's match, pulled out a three-set thriller.
Jessica Robinson and Kaitlyn Tyrakowski, Kristan Stelmasiak, along with Jessica Hargett and Casey Collins, were the other doubles winners.
"The game ball goes to Alex Schuster for working so hard with a new doubles partner Chelsea Allison from the JV program," Dowagiac coach Curtis Partee said. "Both girls worked hard to understand one other game and it all came together Thursday communicating with one other.
"The rest of the team was focus on there matchs and hit the ball well. We as a team must continue to work hard," he added.
South Haven…0
Dowagiac…8
Singles
1. Ami Sarao (D) d. Hannah Rydecki 6-0, 6-1, 2. Elizabeth Kolden (D) d. Sarafina Carricco 6-0, 6-0, 3. Michelle Urbanski (D) d. Sarah Seiler 6-1, 6-0, 4. Macy Howard (D) d. Bridgett Burrows 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)
Doubles
1. Jessica Robinson-Kaitlyn Tyrakowski (D) d. Jane Nixon-Alyson Kluskowski 6-2, 6-0, 2. Kristan Stelmasiak-Alyssa Greenwood (D) d. Courtney Gumpert-Emily Griffin 6-1, 6-0, 3. Alex Schuster-Chelsea Allison (D) d. Tonie Brown-Maddie Simon 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 4. Jessica Hargett-Casey Collins (D) d. Viviana Osbon-Jenny Kristzberg 6-1, 6-1
Varsity record
Dowagiac 1-0, 1-0 Wolverine