T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - Marshalltown senior Kaitlyn Tiernan makes a running forehand return against Fort Dodge’s Anna Marxen during their No. 5 singles match on Tuesday at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Tiernan won the contest in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.

Marshalltown girls’ tennis coach John Fiscus had been hoping for a stress-free afternoon at the MHS Tennis Complex, something the Bobcats were not able to do in the first four home meets of the season.

But on Senior Day and with Fort Dodge in town, the Bobcats were consistent in their play and grabbed a 10-1 win over the Dodgers Tuesday evening.

One member of the Bobcats in particular who was in their best form of the season, freshman Rebekah Downs, locked up a win over Reagan Black 6-2, 6-0 in another show of progress for the young player.

Fiscus said she’s been consistently growing all season long.

“She just gets better and better,” Fiscus said. “She doesn’t show a lot of emotion but she keeps plugging away. Tonight she played very good, she got her first shut-out set score. She’s a go-getter.”

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING - MHS freshman Rebekah Downs delivers a forehand smash against Fort Dodge’s Reagan Black during their No. 3 singles match on Tuesday at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Downs won the match, 6-2, 6-0.

Downs was followed in victory by Emily Diggins, who defeated Tabitha Teske 6-0, 6-2 and won her second straight singles match. The team’s lone varsity senior, Kaitlyn Tiernan, beat Anna Marxen 6-1, 6-1. Regan Smith had battles with Olivia Bell but pulled through for a 6-4, 6-4 win. Cass Lecompte started slow again, having to fight back for a 7-5, 6-4 win over Ellie White. Brianna Hargrave lost 6-1, 6-3 to Meadow Balkenende.

Fiscus said Lecompte’s slow starts and tight matches will help her as the postseason draws near, citing her unwillingness to quit.

“She tends to be a slow starter,” Fiscus said. “But if it’s close, but if it’s close, I don’t ever count her out when it’s close because she tends to be able to take care of what needs to be done. She’s a fighter.”

The Bobcats, holding a 5-1 lead after singles matches, went on to sweep the doubles matchups against the Dodgers. This started with doubles 5 pairing Grace Bethel and Chesni Uhde, who took home a 6-2, 6-3 win over Augusta Cook and Hailey Folsom. Claire Bohan and Taylor Jones had a 7-5, 6-2 win of their own over Olivia Hamlow and Sydney Gebers.

The closest match of the evening played out between Tiernan and Diggins against Balkenende and Teske. The first set was won 7-5 by the Marshalltown duo, while the second set went to a tiebreaker. In the all-important tiebreaker, Tiernan and Diggins won 7-3 to take the second set 7-6.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

Downs and Hargrave made quick work of Black and Marxen 6-3, 6-0, while Lecompte and Smith dealt with White and Bell 6-4, 6-1.

The Bobcats visit Valley on Thursday afternoon.

Marshalltown 10, Fort Dodge 1

Singles

Cassandre Lecompte (MHS) def. Ellie White, 7-5, 6-4

Regan Smith (MHS) def. Olivia Bell, 6-4, 6-4

Rebekah Downs (MHS) def. Reagan Black, 6-2, 6-0

Meadow Balkenende (FD) def. Brianna Hargrave, 6-1, 6-3

Kaitlyn Tiernan (MHS) def. Anna Marxen, 6-1, 6-1

Emily Diggins (MHS) def. Tabitha Teske, 6-0, 6-2

Doubles

Lecompte and Smith (MHS) def. White and Bell, 6-4, 6-1

Downs and Hargrave (MHS) def. Black and Marxen, 6-3, 6-0

Tiernan and Diggins (MHS) def. Balkenende and Teske, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)

Claire Bohan and Taylor Jones (MHS) def. Olivia Hamlow and Sydney Gebers, 7-5, 6-2

Grace Bethel and Chesni Uhde (MHS) def. Augusta Cook and Hailey Folsom, 6-2, 6-3