East Ridge girls tennis: Raptors sweep Park to start Suburban East Conference play

The East Ridge girls tennis team began its dual matches last week, hosting three teams at East Ridge High School, going 2-1.

With East Ridge boys coach Suzie Heideman filling in for girls head coach Jon Rydberg, who is in London competing in the Paralympic Games, the Raptors began the week with a 4-3 loss to non-conference foe Red Wing, but rebounded to beat Minneapolis Southwest 6-1 in a non-conference match and then took down Park 7-0 in their first Suburban East Conference match of 2012.

In the conference win over Park, on Thursday, East Ridge senior Maddie Blake won her match at No. 1 singles 3-6, 6-1, 10-6 over Park’s Nina Riessleman. At second singles, senior Natalie Curdova defeated Park’s A.J. Hoidahl 6-2, 6-1, and at third singles, East Ridge freshman Nicole Robinson won 6-4, 6-4 over Park’s Mallorie Briggs. To help sweep singles play, freshman Minh-Tu Van won 6-3, 6-1 at fourth singles over Park’s Maggie Oppold.

In doubles action, the Raptors’ No. 1 duo of junior Taylor Anderson and freshman Natalie Robinson won 6-2, 6-2, while junior Anna Bearrood and seventh grader Regan Dolezal won 6-1, 6-0 at second singles and seventh grader Megan Karrow and junior Hannah Jacobs won 6-1, 6-0 at third singles.

Prior to the SEC match with Park, East Ridge lost a tight one with Red Wing on Monday as the Raptors and Wingers split singles play, but with Red Wing taking two of three doubles matches.

For East Ridge, Blake won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles and Van won 6-2, 6-2 at fourth singles. In doubles play, Anderson and Natalie Robinson won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1 dubs.

East Ridge bounced back though with a 6-1 win over Minneapolis Southwest on Tuesday as the Raptors swept doubles play. Anderson and Natalie Robinson won in straight sets — 6-1, 6-0 —at first doubles, while Bearrood and Dolezal won 6-2, 6-1 at second doubles and Karrow and Jacobs won 6-2, 6-4 at third doubles. In singles matches, Blake won 7-6 (6), 4-6, 10-6 at second singles, Nicole Robinson won 6-1, 6-2 at third singles and Van won 6-0, 6-1 at fourth singles.

East Ridge took on perennial power Mounds View on Tuesday, after the Bulletin went to press. Next, the Raptors play host to Stillwater on Thursday, Sept. 6, at ERHS.

Tags: east ridge, sports, tennis, raptors, prep, updates