Manchester Netters Edge Lady WarriorsNORTH MANCHESTER – The Manchester Lady Squires beat Mother Nature and the Wawasee Lady Warriors Thursday night, though both opponents put up a good fight. In a high school tennis match that featured two weather delays, the host Lady Squires swept the singles matches en route to a 3-2 win over Wawasee. Manchester is now 4-0 on the season, while Wawasee fell to 2-6. “Each match presented challenges and I saw growth among several young ladies as they showed composure, grit and perseverance,” said Manchester coach Joel Eichenauer. With the team’s splitting the first four matches, the decisive point fell to the No. 1 singles court, where Manchester senior Karly Eichenauer beat Wawasee sophomore Meg Heinisch 6-3, 6-1. The No. 1 singles match featured a 20-minute game in the second set. “When facing an athletic, steady, consistent player, Karly had to play methodically and with patience,” said Joel Eichenauer. “That was a long 6-1 set, and we knew Karly would come through.” The Lady Warriors took a 2-0 lead in the team score as the No. 2 doubles team of Taylor Mock and Courtney Larson beat Kendra Auler and Elizabeth Anguilm 6-2, 6-2 in the first match to finish, while Kabrea Rostochak and Kendra Doerr beat Bethany Collett and Lauren Metzger 7-5, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles. Manchester rallied with singles victories, as Leiah Brandenburg beat Elizabeth Kleopfer 6-3, 6-4 in No. 3 singles action, and Kelsey Eichenauer topped Peyton Rookstool with a super tiebreaker win 6-4, 2-6, 10-4 at No. 2 singles. The Lady Squires are in action again Saturday against Muncie Central and Mississinewa, followed by a Three Rivers Conference match at Rochester Monday. The Lady Warriors will host their own tournament Saturday.
MANCHESTER 3, WAWASEE 2 Singles: No. 1 – Karly Eichenauer (M) def. Meg Heinisch 6-3, 6-1; No. 2 – Kelsey Eichenauer (M) def. Peyton Rookstool 6-4, 2-6, 10-4; No. 3 Leiah Brandenburg (M) def. Elizabeth Kleopfer 6-3, 6-4 Doubles: No. 1 – Kabrea Rostochak & Kendra Doerr (W) def. Bethany Collett & Lauren Metzger 7-5, 6-3; No. 2 – Taylor Mock & Courtney Larson (W) def. Kendra Auler & Elizabeth Anguilm 6-2, 6-2. JV – Manchester 2, Wawasee 2 Singles: No. 1 – Briana Haessig (W) def. Lotte van der Ven 6-3; No. 3 – Anna Osborne (M) def. Anah Sommers 6-0 Doubles: No. 1 – Halie Wampler & Briley Spann (M) def. Aurelia Stephens & Kennedy Church 8-6; No. 2 – Brittney Jackson & Molly Jones (W) def. Sarah Metzger & Lea Ellenrieder 8-2
