Highland High School girls tennis team falls to Waterloo in marathon 4-hour match
In a long and protracted match that had plenty of highs and lows, the Highland girls tennis team ultimately came up a bit short against rival Waterloo.
HHS battled through two super tiebreaker matches and after four grueling hours of tennis, dropped a 6-3 decision at home to their Mississippi Valley Conference counterparts Monday, Sept. 12, at Highland High School.
“We were pretty even with them (Waterloo) down the line, so we had a lot of close matches with a lot of ebbs and flows on both sides,” Highland coach Matt Pellock said.
At. No. 1 singles, Sophia Fleming lost 3-6, and 0-6 while Addison Crask fell at No. 2 singles, 5-7, and 2-6.
Ruthie Manor had a strong showing at No. 3 singles notching a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
In what was the bright spot of the day for Highland, Allie Rinderer won her No. 4 singles match 5-7, 6-3, and 13-11 thanks to an exhausting super tiebreaker third set.
“Allie Rinderer was down 2-8 in the super tiebreaker that plays to 10 and she came back and won that 13-11,” Pellock said. “It was good to see Allie come back from being down so much with that 10-point tiebreaker which is very tough to do.”
Maya Pollard lost at No. 5 singles 3-6 and 5-7 and at No. 6 singles, Abby Chalfant fell 3-6, 1-6.
In doubles matches, Highland started with a tough three set match that went to Waterloo as the HHS No. 1 pairing of Fleming and Crask dropped a 5-7, 6-4, 6-10 match decided by another super tiebreaker set.
“No. 1 doubles had a lot chances and it was a little disappointing to not get the win there,” Pellock said.
Manor and Pollard turned in a solid outing at No. 2 doubles, posting an efficient 6-4, 6-1 straight set victory.
“Ruthie was very consistent throughout the day,” Pellock said. “She won both her singles and doubles matches for us.”
Rinder and Chalfant lost at No. 3 doubles 1-6, 1-6 to round out the evening’s action.
“That was a tough match (for them),” Pellock said. “They (Waterloo) had their No. 1 player in that spot and she was pretty dominant.”
Pellock said he felt, despite the setback, his club played fairly well and, although being a bit younger than Waterloo, HHS would have a good chance against WHS should the two clubs meet later this season.
“I think some of that lack of experience hurt just a little bit, but I think it (the match) was there to win, too, if we played it again,” Pellock said.
