Little Cyclones stave off MHS
T-R PHOTO BY TROY BANNING Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick hits a forehand return during No. 1 singles play against Ames on Monday at Ames High School. Sandvick took a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Lila Goodenow, but the host Little Cyclones scored an 8-3 victory over the Bobcats in Iowa Alliance Conference play.
T-R PHOTO BY TROY BANNING Karolina Cross winds up for a forehand return against Callie Hales of Ames during Monday’s Iowa Alliance Conference girls’ tennis dual at Ames High School. Cross captured one of Marshalltown’s two singles victories, winning the No. 4 match 6-4, 6-3.
T-R PHOTO BY TROY BANNING Hanna Osgood makes contact on a forehand return during her No. 3 singles match against Cecilia Fulton of Ames on Monday at Ames High School. Osgood lost the match, 6-2, 6-2, but was part of Marshalltown’s only doubles victory.
T-R PHOTO BY TROY BANNING Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick hits a forehand return during No. 1 singles play against Ames on Monday at Ames High School. Sandvick took a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Lila Goodenow, but the host Little Cyclones scored an 8-3 victory over the Bobcats in Iowa Alliance Conference play.
T-R PHOTO BY TROY BANNING Karolina Cross winds up for a forehand return against Callie Hales of Ames during Monday’s Iowa Alliance Conference girls’ tennis dual at Ames High School. Cross captured one of Marshalltown’s two singles victories, winning the No. 4 match 6-4, 6-3.
T-R PHOTO BY TROY BANNING Hanna Osgood makes contact on a forehand return during her No. 3 singles match against Cecilia Fulton of Ames on Monday at Ames High School. Osgood lost the match, 6-2, 6-2, but was part of Marshalltown’s only doubles victory.
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AMES -- The youthful Marshalltown girls' tennis team got its first taste of the Iowa Alliance Conference on Monday, but Ames wasn't a welcoming host.
The Little Cyclones won 4-of-6 singles matches and 4-of-5 doubles bouts to take an 8-3 triumph from the visiting Bobcats on Monday evening at Ames High School.
The Bobcats got singles wins at No. 1 from Kate Sandvick and at No. 4 by Karolina Cross. Sandvick nearly shut out Lila Goodenow, scoring a 6-0, 6-1 victory, while Cross was a 6-4, 6-3 winner over Callie Hales.
"Kate and Karolina both played incredibly well in singles," said MHS head coach James Christensen. "They both played the role of counterpuncher and kept their opponents off balance."
All 11 matches were decided in straight sets, but the Bobcats' lone doubles win was one of the most contentious. Hanna Osgood and Trista Bratland captured a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 victory over Amelia Todd and Kiersten Kvach in one of only three bouts that needed a set tiebreaker.
Ames (1-0, 1-0) won the other one, getting a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 win at No. 1 doubles as Goodenow and Clara Fulton held off Sandvick and Kaelyn Coleman in the closest match of the night.
"Bratland and Osgood handled the controversy and tension at No. 3 doubles really well," said Christensen. "They played their own game, stayed focused and won a lot of clutch points.
"Sandvick and Coleman will learn from the loss. They were good in a lot of areas, but Ames exposed a couple of weaknesses that I hadn't prepared the girls for. We will fix it and be ready to go (Tuesday) against Ottumwa and Mason City."
After waiting six days between their season-opening win at South Hardin and Monday's Alliance battle with the Little Cyclones, Marshalltown fell to Ames for the second year in a row. The Little Cyclones have prevailed over the Bobcats in both seasons of fall girls tennis.
Christensen pointed to a hard-fought loss at No. 5 singles for Sophie Boone as a bright spot despite the outcome. She was defeated 6-4, 6-4 by Todd.
"Sophie Boone didn't come out with a victory, but her grit and effort set the tone for us," he said.
Marshalltown's Devinney Stolzman and Melanie Sardina-Hernandez fell by a 6-4, 6-4 count at No. 4 doubles as well.
Rain is expected for Tuesday's Bobcat home-opening doubleheader. Marshalltown's next scheduled event is the Hawkette Invite on Friday at the Ankeny Tennis Center.
Ames 8, Marshalltown 3
At Ames
SINGLES
Kate Sandvick (MHS) def. Lila Goodenow, 6-0, 6-1
Clara Fulton (A) def. Kaelyn Coleman, 6-2, 6-1
Cecilia Fulton (A) def. Hanna Osgood, 6-2, 6-2
Karolina Cross (MHS) def. Callie Hales, 6-4, 6-3
Amelia Todd (A) def. Sophie Boone, 6-4, 6-4
Iris Wang (A) def. Melanie Sardina-Hernandez, 6-1, 6-1
DOUBLES
Goodenow and Cl. Fulton (A) def. Sandvick and Coleman, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
Ce. Fulton and Hales (A) def. Cross and Boone, 6-2, 6-0
Trista Bratland and Osgood (MHS) def. Kiersten Kvach and Todd, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
Cora Hatfield and Aarna Thaman (A) def. Devinny Stolzman and Sardina-Hernandez, 6-4, 6-4
Emma Chen and Wang (A) def. Airi Hoven and Amairra Johnson, 6-2, 6-1