Hermantown controlled nearly every part of the lineup Thursday, winning three singles matches and sweeping doubles in a lopsided 6-1 girls tennis victory over Duluth Denfeld.
The Hawks won five matches in straight sets and showed some resilience in the two most competitive contests of the day, with Nevie Homich surviving a second-set tiebreaker at No. 2 singles and the No. 1 doubles team of Jillian Ritsche and Chloe Gustafson prevailing in a match tiebreaker.
Homich defeated Denfeld’s Olivia Pipho 6-4, 7-6 (8) in one of the afternoon’s closest singles matches. After taking the opening set, Homich was pushed throughout the second before finally closing out the match in an extended tiebreaker.
Hermantown was more dominant in the lower singles positions. Abby Grzbowski defeated Zoe Radzak 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3, while Clara Patullo turned in one of the Hawks’ most decisive performances with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Abby Kittelson at No. 4.
Denfeld’s lone team point came at the top of the singles lineup, where Anissa MacMillan defeated Alee Devlieger 6-0, 6-2. MacMillan controlled the match from the opening games and prevented Hermantown from completing a sweep of the four singles positions.
The Hawks were especially strong in doubles, winning all three flights.
The most dramatic match came at No. 1, where Ritsche and Gustafson outlasted Denfeld’s Elaria Weiss and Aubry Freberg 7-6 (3), 4-6, 10-5. The Hermantown pair won a first-set tiebreaker before Denfeld responded to force a deciding match tiebreak. Ritsche and Gustafson then regained control, taking the breaker 10-5 to secure another point for the Hawks.
Lorelei Rickard and Layla Chandler gave Hermantown a more comfortable victory at No. 2 doubles, defeating Clara Johnson and Emma Bendersky 6-2, 6-3.
At No. 3 doubles, Calista Rother and Amelia Linde delivered Hermantown’s most dominant result of the day, defeating Adriana Johnson and Raini Raichel 6-0, 6-1.
The final score reflected Hermantown’s depth. Even with Denfeld claiming the No. 1 singles match, the Hawks answered by winning every remaining position in the lineup, including all three doubles matches.
Hermantown’s ability to finish the two closely contested matches also helped turn what could have been a tighter dual into a convincing five-point victory. Homich’s tiebreak victory prevented Denfeld from gaining a second singles point, while Ritsche and Gustafson’s win in the deciding breaker completed Hermantown’s doubles sweep.
Hermantown 6, Duluth Denfeld 1
Singles: No. 1 — Anissa MacMillan, Denfeld, def. Alee Devlieger, 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 — Nevie Homich, Hermantown, def. Olivia Pipho, 6-4, 7-6 (8); No. 3 — Abby Grzbowski, Hermantown, def. Zoe Radzak, 6-2, 6-2; No. 4 — Clara Patullo, Hermantown, def. Abby Kittelson, 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles: No. 1 — Jillian Ritsche-Chloe Gustafson, Hermantown, def. Elaria Weiss-Aubry Freberg, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 10-5; No. 2 — Lorelei Rickard-Layla Chandler, Hermantown, def. Clara Johnson-Emma Bendersky, 6-2, 6-3; No. 3 — Calista Rother-Amelia Linde, Hermantown, def. Adriana Johnson-Raini Raichel, 6-0, 6-1.