Begalle, Pallin win U.P. tennis title, Piispapen runner-up

ISHPEMING — Ironwood’s No. 1 doubles team of Danielle Begalle and Rachel Pallin won a U.P. Division 2 title Wednesday while No. 1 singles player Katie Piispapnen was runner-up.

“This was a big day for Ironwood tennis,” Ironwood coach Annette Burchell said. “To have Ironwood playing in the championship round for both No. 1 singles and doubles was huge. I’m proud of our whole team.”

Begalle and Pallin beat Munising’s Adelle Gendron/Alex Paquette 6-4, 7-5. They lost their first set in the opening round but came back to win and not lose a set after that.

“Dani and Rachel held their composure through a long and harrowing day, playing 78 total games of tennis, to earn this outstanding No. 1 doubles championship,” Burchell said. “This is the first U.P. Finals championship match that Ironwood’s won in my 10 seasons of coaching.  Big stuff.  This is a huge accomplishment for these fine young women in their senior year.  They earned this big win on their own.

“An especially sweet reward for Dani Begalle, who made it to the No. 1 doubles championship finals match last year, but couldn’t quite tip it in her favor.  And a well-deserved accomplishment as well for Rachel Pallin, who grew immensely as a tennis player this season, moving up from No. 4 doubles last season to playing the best of the best at No. 1 doubles this season.”

Piispanen fell 7-6 (5), 6-2 in the championship match to Iron Mountain’s Katie Brule.

In her first round match, Piispanen blanked Munising’s Sadie Cornish 6-0, 6-0.  In the semis, Piispanen rolled past Gwinn’s Brooke Luokkala in two sets 6-2, 6-1.

At No. 3 singles, Ironwood’s Katie Erickson advanced to the semifinals by beating Gwinn’s Haylee Lakenen in two sets. In the semis, Erickson lost to Ishpeming’s Jessica Penhale 6-2, 6-2. 

First-round matches

Singles

No. 1:  Katie Piispanen (Ironwood) def. Sadie Cornish (Munising) 6-0, 6-0

No. 2:  Courtney Beauchamp (Westwood) def. Payton Aho (Ironwood) 6-2, 6-2

No. 3:  Katie Erickson (Ironwood) def. Haylee Lakenen (Gwinn) 6-2, 6-4

No. 4:  Lindsey Thompson (Ishpeming) def. Kathleen Mieloszyk (Ironwood) 6-4, 6-0

Doubles

No. 1:  Danielle Begalle/Rachel Pallin (Ironwood) def. Meg Miatech/Allie Schive (WIC) 6-7(2), 6-2, 7-6(6)

No. 2:  Brittanie BarryEmmy Kinner (WIC) def. Kristine Mieloszyk/Jamee Bastman (Ironwood) 6-4, 6-2

No. 3:  Krista Almli/Katie Harrison (Ishpeming) def. Brittany Stella/Kathleen Aspinwall (Ironwood) 6-0, 6-2

No. 4:  Hannah Hakamaki/Grace Hanson (Iron Mtn) def. Randie Ruby/Nicole Taivalmaa (Ironwood) 6-0, 6-0

Semifinal matches

Singles

No. 1:  Katie Piispanen (Ironwood) def. Brooke Luokkala (Gwinn) 6-2, 6-1

No. 3:  Jessica Penhale (Ishpeming) def. Katie Erickson (Ironwood) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1:  Danielle Begalle/Rachel Pallin (Ironwood) def. E. McCole/Emily Chang (Iron Mountain) 6-2, 6-4

Championship match Results

Singles

No. 1:  Katie Brule (Iron Mountain) def. Katie Piispanen (Ironwood) 7-6(5), 6-2

No. 2:  Olivia Truscott (Iron Mountain) def. Jaime Olson (Ishpeming)

No. 3:  Kiki Piwarski (West Iron County) def. Jessica Penhale (Ishpeming) 7-6(6), 6-3

No. 4:  Rachel Anderson (Westwood) def. Jessie Prudhomme (West Iron County)  6-3, 6-0

Doubles

No. 1:  Danielle Begalle/Rachel Pallin (Ironwood) def. Adelle Gendron/Alex Paquette (Munising) 6-4, 7-5

No. 2:  Kate Bugni/Emily Bugni (Iron Mountain) def. Gabby Hebert/Caitlin Hewitt (Westwood)

No. 3:  Lacey Pietro/Olivia Derocha (Westwood) def. Alexis Golfis/Kristin Smith (WIC)

No. 4:  Emily Carlson/Jamee Ferris (Westwood) def. Hannah Hakamaki/Grace Hanson (Iron Mtn)