Girls tennis team tops IF-A; falls to Mason City

The Clear Lake girls tennis team opened its season with a split against North Iowa competition.  The Lions fell in a close match with Mason City, but then soundly defeated Iowa Falls.

MC 6, CL 3

Clear Lake’s Lindsey Loudenburg and Kirsten Jordan won their singles matches and the doubles team of Alexis Atkinson and Courtney Anderson were victorious for the Lions against Mason City on April 7.  

“I’m very encouraged after our first match despite the loss,” said Coach Mary Jo Peterson.  “I saw a lot of positives, especially since several girls are playing in new positions.  We’ll build on what we did well and also begin to focus on some areas that will help us create more consistency.”

In other singles play, Atkinson, Kylie Bottjen, Anderson, and Miranda Mundt had close matches and all showed improvement throughout their matches, noted the coach.

In doubles, Atkinson and Anderson worked patiently and played the net well to pick up the win, said Peterson.  The Lions’ number one doubles team of Loudenburg and Bottjen lost a close 6-4, 6-2 match, as did the number three team of Jordan and Hailey Grell, 6-2, 6-4.   

“Both of these teams played well but just didn’t have the consistency yet to force the win,” said Peterson.

Singles

Ashley Rottinghaus (MC) over Alexis Atkinson, 6-1, 6-0

Lindsey Loudenburg (CL) over Michelle Hahn, 6-3, 6-4

Sydney Rottinghaus (MC) over Kylie Bottjen, 6-0, 7-5

Morgan Merritt (MC) over Courtney Anderson, 6-3, 6-1

Kirsten Jordan (CL) over Morgan Amundson, 7-5, 6-2

Aubrey Coleman (MC) over Miranda Mundt, 6-3, 6-0

Doubles

Rottinghaus/Rottinghaus (MC) over Loudenburg/Bottjen, 6-4, 6-2

Atkinson/Anderson (CL) over Hahn/Amundson, 6-3, 6-1

Merritt/Coleman (MC) over Jordan/Hailey Grell, 6-2, 6-4

CL 7, IF-A 2

The Lions won four singles matches and swept doubles play on their way to a 7-2 victory over Iowa Falls-Alden Friday, April 11.

Alexis Atkinson, playing in the number one singles spot for the Lions, battled a very tough opponent in an evenly matched set but fell just short, 9-11.  “I was proud of her leadership and never-give-up attitude,” said Coach Mary Jo Peterson.  

Atkinson’s efforts inspired the remainder of the team, with Lindsey Loudenburg (10-4), Kylie Bottjen (10-7), Courtney Anderson (10-4) and Kirsten Jordan (10-1) all winning.  Hailey Grell had a great match for her first varsity singles outing, but fell 8-10.  “She was down 1-5 and fought back to stay in the match right until the end.  I was proud of her efforts,” said the coach.  

In doubles, Loudenburg and Bottjen won 10-5.  Atkinson and Anderson cruised to a 10-5 victory on the strength of their net play, and Jordan and Mundt, in their first match in varsity doubles, won 10-5.

“We continue to gain experience and build on our strengths every day,” said Peterson.  “We’ve had great leadership, especially from our senior players.”

Singles 

Emalee Knipfel (IFA) over Alexis Atkinson, 11-9

Lindsey Loudenburg (CL) over Karo Kreutzer, 10-4

Kylie Bottjen (CL) over Maggie Cooper, 10-7

Courtney Anderson (CL) over Carolina Leal, 10-4

Kirsten Jordan (CL) over Kylie Gerstein, 10-1

Catelynn Harms (IFA) over Hailey Grell, 10-8

Doubles

Loudenburg/Bottjen (CL) over Knipfel/Gerstein, 10-5

Atkinson/Anderson (CL) over Kreutzer/Cooper, 10-5

Jordan/Miranda Mundt (CL) over Leal/Harms, 10-5