Chiefs take 5-2 win over Jefferson early in week
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
Facing a red-hot East Troy squad Tuesday afternoon, the Big Foot-Williams Bay girls tennis team definitely put their best foot forward.
That said, the deep and talented Trojans just had a bit too much for the Chiefs to handle.
In a matchup between two of the Rock Valley Conference’s three undefeated squads, the Trojans handed Big Foot its first RVC dual meet loss of the season with a 5-2 decision.
The Big Foot sister duo of junior Meredith and freshman Clare Heckert accounted for both of the Chiefs’ victories.
Meredith Heckert knocked off East Troy’s Lora Leach 6-3, 6-2, while Clare Heckert beat Anna Stephen 7-5, 6-0.
Both Heckerts had big moments in their matches, assistant coach Dani Lawler said.
“Meredith played incredibly well, was able to stay calm and consistent,” Lawler said.
“Clare’s match was awesome to watch. She came back to win the first set after being down (4-1) and carried that confidence into the second set to finish the match incredibly strong.”
East Troy picked up victories at each of the other five positions to finish up the win.
At No. 3 singles, junior Hannah Schmidt fell 2-6, 0-6 to Victoria Pott, while at No. 4, junior Sonja Ericson dropped an 0-6, 3-6 decision to Mikayla Lamping.
Big Foot’s No. 1 doubles duo of junior Izzy Klesmith and senior Maddie Palmer fell 6-7 (4), 3-6 to the East Troy undefeated duo of Mackenzie Lindow and Erin Rice.
“This was an incredibly hard-fought match and a tough loss,” Lawler said. “Both ladies played extremely well.”
At No. 2 doubles, the Big Foot team of junior Sam Hartwig and senior Lexi Zabrouski fell 1-6, 0-6 to the East Troy tandem of Claudia Pott and Alison Barth.
“(They) played well and fought hard,” Lawler said. “They kept the game scores extremely close and fought until the end.”
Big Foot’s No. 3 doubles team of senior Alyssa Nor and sophomore Claire Beyers fell 1-6, 1-6 to Kelly Griffa and Allison Slusar.
The Chiefs opened their week Sept. 8 with a 5-2 RVC victory at Jefferson.
Picking up wins for Big Foot were Meredith Heckert at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 6-2; Clare Heckert at No. 2, 6-2, 6-4; Ericson at No. 4, 6-1, 6-3; Palmer-Klesmith at No. 1 doubles, 6-2, 7-5; and Zabrouski-Hartwig at No. 2, 6-0, 6-3.
Dropping matches to the Eagles were Schmidt at No. 3 singles, 2-6, 4-6, and Nor-Beyers at No. 3 doubles, 4-6, 6-3 (4-10).
Big Foot hosted McFarland Thursday afternoon and hosts Whitewater next Monday, Sept. 19, in another RVC dual meet.
