The Waseca Bluejay girls tennis team pulled out a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Belle Plaine Tigers on Tuesday evening. With the match tied at 3-3, senior Pearl Moore clinched the win for Waseca at No. 3 singles, battling through a first-set tiebreak before closing out the match 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Waseca jumped ahead early thanks to dominant performances at the top of the singles lineup. Vivian Mader rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at No. 1 singles, while Maddy Benson matched her effort with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 2. Moore’s deciding win secured the team triumph.
In doubles play, the duo of Paige Dufault and Ava Miller picked up a crucial win at No. 1 doubles, defeating Belle Plaine’s Olivia Endres and Ella Thorstad 6-2, 7-5.
Belle Plaine managed wins at No. 4 singles and both the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles spots to even the score before Moore sealed the victory.
The JV squad also turned in a strong showing, defeating Belle Plaine 6-1.
Match Results
Singles
No. 1 – Vivian Mader (Waseca) def. Cora Rosenwinkel (BP), 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 – Maddy Benson (Waseca) def. Michelle Sloan (BP), 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 – Pearl Moore (Waseca) def. Cesilia Ledesma (BP), 7-6 (4), 6-2
No. 4 – Elise Davidson (BP) def. Lily Sanchez (Waseca), 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 – Paige Dufault / Ava Miller (Waseca) def. Olivia Endres / Ella Thorstad (BP), 6-2, 7-5
No. 2 – Nina Messer / Taylor Menke (BP) def. Layla Keith / Anna Benson (Waseca), 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 – Josephine Voigt / Emily Muehlenhardt (BP) def. Lucy Deml / Abby Jackson (Waseca), 6-4, 7-5
The Bluejays improve to 7-6 overall and 4-1 in the Big South Conference–Black Division. They return to action Thursday when they host No. 3-ranked St. James Area at 4:30 p.m.