Girls tennis opens its season with a victory

COLUMBUS -- The doubles team got the Columbus High girls tennis team’s season off on the right note with a win.

The three doubles teams all brought home victories in helping the Discoverers take a 7-2 win over Norfolk Tuesday at the Pawnee Park tennis courts.

The No. 1 and No. 3 doubles teams cruised to 8-0 wins. At No. 1, Ellen Rambour and Lauren Lemke easily topped Kym Caddell and Katie Olerich, while the No. 3 doubles team of Brittne Mahoney and Ashley Meyers defeated Danielle Pelt and Cassandra Hoffman.

In No. 2 doubles, Lindsay Cepel and Lori Fehr fell behind 4-1 to Megan Hult and Alexa Fink, but won the next seven games to win 8-4.

“All the girls played very well in doubles for the most part,” CHS coach Dave Licari said. “Lauren Lemke and Ellen Rambour played solid at No. 1 doubles. Lindsay Cepel and Lori Fehr actually played well after falling behind 4-1. I think they tried to do a little too much early in the match and trying to make the big shot instead of just getting the ball over and being a little more consistent.

“Ashley and Brittne controlled their match and played well.”

In singles, the Discoverers took four of the six matches. Rambour grabbed an 8-6 win over Caddell at No. 1 singles, while Mahoney took an 8-6 win over Melissa Coolidge at No. 5 singles for the closest match.

Meyers had no problem with Meleaka Vergutz at No. 6 singles, winning 8-2.

“Ashley had a great day for us, both in the singles and doubles,” Licari said. “She started the day winning 8-0 with Brittne in No. 3 doubles and then had an 8-2 singles win. I was pleased with that today. So, overall, we had a pretty good day.”

The Discoverers will battle Lincoln Southwest at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Pawnee Park tennis courts.

“Thursday will be much tougher, and they are usually pretty solid. We’ll get more of a challenge Thursday,” Licari said.

As far as the season goes, Licari said if the Discoverers can avoid injuries, they can do pretty well.

“We have a lot of potential to be a good team,” Licari said. “Last year, we had a couple injuries that took us back a little bit. If we stay healthy, I think we can be pretty solid as the year goes on. The practices have been very good this year as far as work ethic and leadership. They have been hitting the ball well in practice. Hopefully, the kids will continue to get better.”

COLUMBUS-NORFOLK DUAL

Tuesday at Norfolk

VARSITY

Columbus 7, Norfolk 2

SINGLES

n No. 1 -- Ellen Rambour (Columbus High) def. Kym Caddell, 8-6.

n No. 2 -- Katie Olerich (Norfolk) def. Lauren Lemke, 8-5.

n No. 3 -- Lindsay Cepel (CHS) def. Megan Hult, 8-2.

n No. 4 -- Alexa Fink (NOR) def. Lori Fehr, 9-7.

n No. 5 -- Brittne Mahoney (CHS) def. Melissa Coolidge, 8-6.

n No. 6 -- Ashley Meyers (CHS) def. Meleaka Vergutz, 8-2.

DOUBLES

n No. 1 -- Rambour/Lemke (CHS) def. Caddell/Olerich, 8-0.

n No. 2 -- Cepel/Fehr (CHS) def. Hult/Fink, 9-7.

n No. 3 -- Mahoney/Meyers (CHS) def. Danielle Pelt/Cassandra Hoffman, 8-0.

JUNIOR VARSITY

Norfolk 7, Columbus 2

SINGLES

n No. 1 -- Danielle Pelt (NOR) def. Lori Haas 8-1.

n No. 2 -- Cassandra Hoffman (NOR) def. Rachel Steffen, 8-3.

n No. 3 -- Kalen Drake (NOR) def. Jenna Stecker, 8-3.

n No. 4 -- Sammi Brandt (NOR) def. Sammi Brandt, 8-3.

n No. 5 -- Michalea Finn (NOR) def. Jen Gokie, 9-7.

n No. 6 -- Chelsey Zuerlein (CHS) def. Kayla Johnson, 8-3.

DOUBLES

n No. 1 -- Haas/Stecker (CHS) def. Coolidge/Vergutz, 9-7.

n No. 2 -- Drake/Foxhoven (NOR) def. Steffen/Brandt, 8-5.

n No. 3 -- Gokie/Zuerlein (NOR) def. Finn/Johnson, 8-6.