By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Another strong showing in singles play propelled the Stevens Point Area Senior High girls tennis team to its third straight Wisconsin Valley Conference dual meet victory.
The Panthers, the defending conference champions, swept all four singles matches en route to a 5-2 win over Rhinelander Tuesday.
"I'm happy to pull this win out," SPASH coach Nancy Schmidt said.
Singles have been the strong point for the Panthers so far this season, who are now 3-0 in the Valley after wins over Wausau West and Antigo in the last two weeks.
Senior Ann Howley got things started for SPASH at No. 1, disposing of Amy Sikka 6-1, 6-0. Meagan Palmer topped Trisha Thoms 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2; Freshman Lauren Hom also won in straight sets at No. 3, beating Emily VandenBerg 6-2, 6-0; and junior Stefani VanKleef did the same against Cassandra Smith, sweeping both sets, 6-0, 7-5.
"They all did a really nice job," Schmidt said of her singles players. "They all did a super job."
Schmidt said she was impressed with the way Palmer, a sophomore, handled Thoms.
"The gal she played had a slice on the ball," Schmidt said. "She really had to keep her eye on the ball. She came up to the net and put her away."
Rhinelander took two of the three doubles matches from the Panthers. Emily Boyd and Erica Kitze topped SPASH's No. 1 team of Claire Boylan and Rheanna Rudebusch 6-1, 7-5. The No. 2 and 3 matches both went three sets, with the Panthers pulling out one of them.
At No. 2, Amber Yudchitz and Bailey Menzel outlasted Jenie Cirilli and Kara Marlatt 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
"They just refocused in the third set. They pulled together and played as a team. They communicated and played like a doubles team," Schmidt said.
But at No. 3, Rhinelander's Emily Allgood and Jacci Winter forced a third set and came away with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Jessie Palmer and Casie Crubaugh.