Red Devils drop 2 at Rhinelander quad

RHINELANDER, Wis. — The Ironwood Red Devils girls’ tennis team kicked off their competitive season Friday travelling to Rhinelander, Wisconsin for a quadrangular invitational against Wisconsin schools: Rhinelander, Merrill and Ashland. Regular ad scoring with 10-pt super-tiebreakers in lieu of a 3rd set was the play format for the day.

Ashland 6, Ironwood 1

After a short rain delay waiting for courts to dry, Ironwood was first on court facing off against the Ashland Oredockers, with play beginning at 9:30am. Ashland quickly won matches at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles. At 11am, rain showers halted play. Merrill’s team decided to go home, choosing not to risk further rain time delays. Waiting for the rain to stop and courts to dry, play resumed at 1:30pm, with no further interruptions for the remainder of the day.

Ironwood’s No. 1 singles player, senior Katie Piispanen, faced off against Ashland doubles specialist, junior Alison Tollas. Playing long rallies, the game score teetered back and forth, with Tollas edging Piispanen in both sets 7-5.

Ironwood’s No. 1 doubles duo of seniors Christy Moore and Katie Erickson battled tough in the first set winning game for game to a set deciding tiebreaker, with Ashland earning a mini-break to take the set. Tough rallies ensued in the 2nd set, with Ashland winning 6-2.

The No. 2 and No. 3 Ironwood doubles teams both dropped their first set, battled back to a 6-4 second set win, forcing the third set deciding tiebreaker. Ashland pocketed their 4th team win at No. 3 doubles, edging out Ironwood’s Brittany Stella and MaKenzie Marshall in the third, 10-7. Ironwood’s No. 2 doubles duo of Jamee Bastman and Kristine Mieloszyk stayed composed to take the match, with a 10-8 tiebreaker, earning Ironwood’s only team win against Ashland.

Rhinelander 6, Ironwood 1

Ironwood’s second match of the day was against powerhouse Rhinelander, who quickly took early two-set wins at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles, and No. 3 doubles. Ironwood’s No. 1 doubles team rallied competitively, but were broken just once each set to get edged out 6-3.

Ironwood’s No. 2 power duo of Kristine Mieloszyk and Jamee Bastman repeated their first match success, dropping a close first set to their opponent, winning the second 6-4, and edging out a 3rd set deciding 10-pt tiebreaker, 11-9, again earning Ironwood’s only team point.

Last on court was the No. 1 singles match, pitting Ironwood’s Piispanen against Rhinelander veteran senior, Eileen Emond. Piispanen introduced her power game, slinging relentless baseline topspin forehands and backhands to Emond.

Emond answered with consistent, well-placed baseline and chip returns, taking the first set 6-2. Similar play ensued in the 2nd, with Piispanen finding herself down 2-5. Ramping up her aggressive style, answering drop-shots with wicked drop-shot, attacking soft chip returns with punishing volleys and overheads, Piispanen battled back winning 3 consecutive games bringing the score to 5-5. Each young woman won a game, forcing a set tiebreaker. Emond snatched the first 3 points toward a 7-3 tiebreak and match win.

“I was really pleased with the way our team played their first varsity matches of the season against two always tough tennis programs,” said coach Noel Aho. “Our girls did really well, playing very competitive matches. Every girl learned from every ball hit and improved from their beginning point of the day to their last.”

“We’re happy to have Christy Moore back, anchoring our No. 1 doubles team, after spending her junior year as a Rotary foreign exchange student to Chile. All of our doubles teams demonstrated great teamwork and support for one another and played aggressively; they just need a bit more time to get used to playing together.”

Ironwood (0-2) plays tough U.P. Division 2 rival teams this week, hosting West Iron County Monday, August 25 at 10:00 am, then travelling to Ishpeming Wednesday for doubleheaders against Ishpeming and Westwood high schools.

Ashland def. Ironwood 6-1

Singles

No. 1: Alison Tollas (A) def. Katie Piispanen (I) 7-5, 7-5

No. 2: Kaiya Voldberg (A) def. Kathleen Mieloszyk (I) 6-1, 6-0

No. 3: Tiana Simanovsky (A) def. Randie Ruby (I) 6-4, 6-1

No. 4: Rosemary Dunn (A) def. McKenna Anderson (I) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles

No. 1: Molly DeMars/Haley Thompson (A) def. Katie Erickson/Christy Moore (I) 7-6(4), 6-2

No. 2: Jamee Bastman/Kristine Mieloszyk (I) def. Sonya Morud/Kaitlyn Zinnecker (A) 2-6, 6-4, (10-8)

No. 3: Kathryn Draeger/Sam Stegmann (A) def. MaKenzie Marshall/Brittany Stella (I) 6-4, 4-6, (10-7)

Rhinelander def. Ironwood 6-1

Singles

No. 1: Eileen Emond (R) def. Katie Piispanen (I) 6-2, 7-6(3)

No. 2: Ivy Packard (R) def. Kathleen Mieloszyk (I) 6-0, 6-1

No. 3: Kristine Jacobson (R) def. Randie Ruby (I) 6-0, 6-0

No. 4: Belinda Weddle (R) def. McKenna Anderson (I) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

No. 1: Erin Tenderholt/Maddie Barnes (R) def. Christy Moore/Katie Erickson (I) 6-3, 6-3

No. 2: Kristine Mieloszyk/Jamee Bastman (I) def. Maria Biolo/Josie Berry (R) def. 4-6, 6-4, (11-9)

No. 3: Bri DeNamur/Ali Schickert (R) def. Brittany Stella/MaKenzie Marshall (I) 6-0, 6-1