Cadillac blanks Alpena in third meeting of year

By JOHN BRONZ
The Alpena tennis team has become familiar with Cadillac, facing them for the third time this season on Thursday, but the Vikings dominated this meeting in an 8-0 win at Alpena High School.

At No. 2 doubles, Erin Bedtelyon and Katie Reynolds faced the Vikings duo of the Kristen Maury and Stephanie Widrig. The teams split in the previous two meetings, and Mary and Widrig started with a 3-2 lead in the first set of Thursday’s meetings. But the Vikings team rallied taking four of the next five points to grab the first set 6-4.

Maury and Widrig carried the momentum into the second set opening a 4-1 lead and taking the set 6-3.

“Because of their height, (Bedtelyon and Reynolds) keep a lot of balls in play,” said Alpena tennis coach Charlie Giordano.

No. 1 singles Ashley Giordano, who was playing with an injured knee, faced her opponent, Jaclyn Shappa, for the third time this season.

In the first set Shappa’s low to the net forehand caused problems for Giordano and her bad knee the entire set. Shappa also got most of her first serves in for a 6-0 win in the first set.

In the second set, Giordano was up 2-1 with a break before double faulting twice during the next point to tie the match at 2-2. Shappa gained momentum from the mistake reeling off the next three points to take a 5-2 lead.

However, Giordano didn’t go quietly winning the next two points.

“She tends to battle all the way through,” said Charlie Giordano. “She never quits and kept the ball in play.”

At 5-4, the two battled to deuce. At deuce, Giordano had another double fault and on match point she missed a second volley attempt at the net to give Shappa the second set, 6-4.

“She tweaked her knee,” said Charlie Giordano. “It hampers her movement and Jaclyn (Shappa) has a low slice ball.

“It’s hard for Ashley getting the best (players at No. 1 singles).”

At No. 2 singles, Cara Gonzalez fell to Libby Dorrell 6-2, 6-2. Gonzalez was down only 3-2 before Dorrell won three straight points for the match.

“This is her first year at singles and she’s finally figuring out she has to get back to the center (of the court),” said Giordano. “And she did a nice job of not over hitting today.”

At No. 3 singles Katie Flemington fell 6-2, 6-1 to Cally O’ Hagen, and at No. 4 singles Melissa McDonald fell 6-1, 6-1 to Kat Hutchinson.

At No. 1 doubles, Liz Sundin and Katie Neumann fell 6-1, 6-1 to Katie Wright and Brittany Mullins.

At No. 3 doubles Amanda Sumerix and Megan Jackson fell 6-2, 6-1 to Bethany Stadden and Amanda Marcotte, and at No. 4 doubles Allison Blade and Heather Rouleau fell 6-0, 6-0 to Charly Loper and Lisa Snider.

John Bronz can be reached via e-mail at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5690.