Woodbury girls tennis: Royals ‘moving in the right direction' says coach

Despite a pair of losses to top programs last week, Woodbury girls tennis team head coach Derek Otto said he liked his team’s effort and said the Royals are “moving in the right direction.”

Woodbury lost a pair of matches 6-1 to non-conference foe Mahtomedi and Suburban East Conference competitor Hastings, but took down South St. Paul 5-2 in a non-conference match last week.

Woodbury started out the week with a 6-1 loss to Mahtomedi. Woodbury junior Katie Kreibich was the lone winner on the day for the Royals, winning 6-4, 7-5 at No. 1 singles. However, there were also close, three-set matches at second and fourth singles and first doubles.

“It was a great match,” Otto said. “We competed very well against one of the top 10 teams in the state. It was a very impressive effort for the girls.”

Woodbury rebounded from the loss to the Zephyrs, defeating South St. Paul 5-2, sweeping doubles play and winning at third and fourth singles. In doubles matches, the duo of junior Shanna Stevenson and eighth grader Mackenzie Schurhamer won 6-1, 6-1 at first doubles, while sophomore Claire and senior Alyssa Delmundo won 7-0 (7-5), 6-4 at second doubles and juniors Greta Eisenrich and Lisa Blaut won 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 doubles. In singles play, freshman Brooke Hays won 7-5, 6-2 at third singles and junior Angie Drehmel won 6-3, 6-4 at fourth singles.

“We really played well against South St. Paul,” Otto said. “Great tennis all around on what was an extremely hot and humid day on Wednesday.”

To cap the week, though, Woodbury hit a snag against SEC foe Hastings, falling 6-1. Hays won 6-4, 6-2 at third singles to give the Royals their only point. Kreibich lost a three-setter at No. 1 singles.

“Thursday was a nice match against Hastings,” Otto said. “Katie Kreibich lost her rematch against the Hastings one who she had defeated a week earlier, but otherwise we were far more competitive in each of the other matches than we were at their tournament a week ago. That’s great proof that the girls are moving quickly in the right direction as we get further along in our season and invest a lot of hours into practice.”

Woodbury welcomed Stillwater to town on Tuesday after the Bulletin went to press. Next up, the Royals take on Park at home on Thursday in an SEC and intra-district showdown.

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