By Chris Bennett
Sports correspondent
The Elks lost two matches in both singles and doubles play and lost 4-3 Aug. 31 at Waterford in a Southern Lakes Conference girls high school tennis dual meet.
The Elks beat Delavan-Darien 6-1 Aug. 29 at Delavan-Darien High School in a SLC dual meet.
Elkhorn played a non-conference dual meet Tuesday at Big Foot High School and at an SLC dual meet Thursday at Union Grove.
“Our top players – our first and second singles and first doubles – stepped-up and played pretty well,” Elks coach Grant Paisley said of the dual meet against Waterford. “I’m just happy the top end is doing well. The bottom end of the lineup is younger.”
Against the Wolverines, Gabby Richardson beat Hannah Durand 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1 singles and Kendall Birbaum beat Miranda Vescio in three sets at No. 2 singles.
At No. 1 doubles, the Elks’ Payton Christiansen and Ali Smith beat Tatum Burazin and Veronica Tenhagen, 6-4, 6-4.
Against Delavan-Darien, Richardson beat Paulina Cruz 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
Elkhorn’s Lexi Runnells beat Jenna McKinney 7-5, 6-0 at No. 3 singles and Leah Meersman defeated Melisa Doloir 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles.
Elkhorn swept the doubles matches against the Comets. Christiansen and Smith beat Angeles Gomez and Ybeth Gloria in straight sets at No. 1 doubles.
Madison Trost and Madison Page beat Jessica Lawson and Angel Tazelaar 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles and Sophie Timmer and Abby Cook beat Madison Stone and Litzy Andrade 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 doubles.
The Elks have played and practiced at Four Lakes Athletic Club this season. Paisley is on staff at Four Lakes.
Renovations to the tennis courts are part of the roughly $23 million referendum voters approved in November of 2016. Construction on the courts is expected to be complete by November, according to Paisley.
“There are no other courts in Elkhorn,” Paisley said. “We had no other options.”
Paisley said practicing and playing indoors presents a disadvantage, because players do not learn to handle the elements while in the middle of a match.
In spite of the unique situation related to their home courts, Paisley said the Elks are progressing as a program.
“I think we’re a little better than last year,” Paisley said. “We’ve gotten a little better every year. We’re trying to build it from the ground up and get kids to play in junior high, so when they get to high school we have kids who have played tennis.”
“I think we’re better on paper than what the record shows. I’m trying to get the girls to fight a little more. We always seem to lose that swing match.”
