Eagles’ girls tennis team shining early

Sauk Prairie’s girls tennis team hosted its first match of the year on Aug. 31. And the Eagles put on a show for the home crowd. Sauk Prairie rolled past Baraboo, 7-0, winning six of the seven matches in straight sets. “Overall, this was a great showing for our first varsity home meet,” Sauk Prairie coach Heather Slosarek said. “Each player stepped up to the challenge and improved since their matches last week.” The Eagles rolled at all four singles flights. Taylor Haas cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles, while Anna Ballweg notched a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 2. Olivia Joyce prevailed at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-2, and Devin O’Connor posted a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 4. “Taylor Haas played a very solid and strategic match at No. 1 singles,” Slosarek said. “She learned her opponent’s strengths and weaknesses early and capitalized on her ability to keep the ball moving from side to side. “Anna Ballweg at No. 2 singles, Olivia Joyce at No. 3 singles and Devin O’Connor at No. 4 singles battled through some very long points, keeping nice patience and consistency while clearing their minds quickly of little errors. Each improved their strategy from the last meet vs. Watertown.” In doubles play, Hannah Helt and Camdyn Kastelitz earned a hard fought to a 7-5, 7-6 (3) win at No. 1.  “Hannah Helt and Camdyn Kastelitz had two nailbiter sets,” Slosarek said. “At times, they struggled with the power of the other team, but they were able to pull off winners at critical times during the match. “Ultimately, they put a series of strong offensive plays together in the second set tiebreaker to keep themselves out of a third set.” At No. 2 doubles, the Eagles’ tandem of Naomi Breunig and Cassie Ziegler prevailed in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. “Naomi Breunig and Cassie Ziegler had an up, down, and then up again match,” Slosarek said. “They came out strong, but slipped off of their game to drop the second set. They rallied in the third set, using their athleticism and net play to their advantage.” And at No. 3 doubles, Faith Holler and Ava Andres rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win. “Faith Holler and Ava Andres continued to build cohesion as a team,” Slosarek said. “Ava is subbing in for injured junior, Lauren Frey, and she has done a great job working with Faith.   “Faith brings a competitive edge to her play and keeps a level head during matches. Her leadership has helped Ava become more acclimated to this level of play.” Sauk Prairie’s JV team also posted a 9-2 win. In other action last week: • Sauk Prairie 5, Madison Edgewood 2 — The Eagles won all three doubles matches and toppled the visiting Crusaders on Sept. 1. “We enjoyed hosting Edgewood and their families, as they have been operating under stricter COVID-19 guidelines in Dane County,” Slosarek said. “They were able to play doubles matches, as well as have spectators, and it was nice to give them the opportunity to get a little closer to normal.” Hannah Helt and Camdyn Kastelitz posted a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles, while Naomi Breunig and Cassie Ziegler earned a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2. And at No. 3 doubles, Faith Holler and Ava Andres notched a 6-3, 6-3 win. “The No. 1 to No. 3 doubles teams are beginning to further gel and find their unique styles of play,” Slosarek said. “They were hitting deep baseline and corner shots well today, while also seizing opportunities to attack the ball at the net.   “They all pulled out straight-set wins, and we couldn’t be more excited to get them back into practice to continue building their competition toolboxes.” In singles play, Anna Ballweg won at No. 2, 6-3, 6-4 and Devin O’Connor notched a hard fought 7-6 (5), 6-4 win at No. 4. “Anna Ballweg, was laser-focused in her match against a very strong competitor,” Slosarek said. “She was hitting groundstrokes toe to toe and seized opportunities to keep and extend her lead. “Devin O’Connor continues to build momentum and confidence on the varsity team. She has been building her mental game, and it was on display tonight as she showed both patience and a competitive edge when she needed to throughout the match.” • Beaver Dam 4, Sauk Prairie 3 — The host Beavers won three of four singles matches and edged the Eagles on Sept. 3. “Going into this match, we were hoping to get a little redemption from last year,” Slosarek said. “We played Beaver Dam in our last dual match last year tied for the top of the conference.   “Unfortunately, we came up short there — not without a hard battle. (On Sept. 3), history repeated itself, and we came up a little short again.” Taylor Haas earned a hard fought, three-set win at No. 1 singles for Sauk Prairie. Haas dropped the first set, 6-0, but rallied back to win 6-2, 10-4. “The standout of the match was Taylor Haas,” Slosarek said. “Taylor started out down, losing the first set quickly to an opponent who was playing on all cylinders.   “However, her unphased demeanor helped her strategize in the second set, working her opponent’s weaker backhand shot and battling back to a win in the second.  Taylor was able to hold the mental edge throughout the third set super-tiebreaker to win out 10-4.  Taylor’s ability to adapt her game, know her abilities and capitalize on her opponent’s weakness won her this match!” In doubles play, Naomi Breunig and Cassie Ziegler prevailed at No. 2, 7-6 (5), 6-3. And the duo of Faith Holler and Avery Leigh won at No. 3, 6-4, 7-6 (4). “Naomi Breunig and Cassie Ziegler were playing incredibly well at the net and running down strong shots from their opponents,” Slosarek said. “Their athleticism was on display. “And at No. 3 doubles, Avery was a last-minute substitution for Ava Andres, who was unable to attend the meet.  Avery stepped up to the challenge with some amazing angles and strong put-aways.   “Faith Holler continues to be an anchor for the No. 3 doubles team losing her long-time partner to an injury, then losing her new partner yesterday. Faith’s ability to adapt and support her teammates is incredible”   Aug. 31 SAUK PRAIRIE 7, BARABOO 0 Singles No. 1 — Taylor Haas, Sauk Prairie, def. Alice Davies, Baraboo, 6-1, 6-0. No. 2 — Anna Ballweg, Sauk Prairie, def. Anya Carlson-Edwards, Baraboo, 6-2, 6-4. No. 3 — Olivia Joyce, Sauk Prairie, def. Hannah Wiezcorek, Baraboo, 6-4, 6-2. No. 4 — Devin O’Connor, Sauk Prairie, def. Annie Langkamp, Baraboo, 6-4, 6-3.   Doubles No. 1 — Hannah Helt-Camdyn Kastelitz, Sauk Prairie, def. Lanie Koppie-Paige Lewison, Baraboo, 7-5 , 7-6 (3). No. 2 — Naomi Breunig-Cassie Ziegler, Sauk Prairie, def. Maggie Cleary-Claire Bildstein, Baraboo, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.  No. 3 — Faith Holler-Ava Andres, Sauk Prairie, def. Eva Huffaker-Eryn Benson, Baraboo, 6-2, 6-2.   Sept. 1 SAUK PRAIRIE 5, MADISON EDGEWOOD 2 Singles No. 1 — Baluck Deang, Edgewood, def. Taylor Haas, Sauk Prairie, 6-0, 6-0. No. 2 — Anna Ballweg, Sauk Prairie,  def. Morgan Merckx, Edgewood, 6-3, 6-4. No. 3 — Bronte Jenson, Edgewood def. Olivia Joyce, Sauk Prairie,  6-3, 6-3. No. 4 — Devin O’Connor, Sauk Prairie, def. Ella Kory, Edgewood, 7-6 (5), 6-4.   Doubles No. 1 — Hannah Helt-Camdyn Kastelitz, Sauk Prairie, def. Sarah Dunn-Maeve Shanahan, Edgewood, 6-3, 6-3. No. 2 — Naomi Breunig-Cassie Ziegler, Sauk Prairie, def. Samantha Buckner-Sydney Olson, Edgewood, 6-4, 6-2. No. 3 — Faith Holler-Ava Andres, Sauk Prairie, def. Ella Johnson-Jamey Olson, Edgewood, 6-3, 6-3.      Sept. 3 BEAVER DAM 4, SAUK PRAIRIE 3 Singles No. 1 — Taylor Haas, Sauk Prairie, def. Hannah Budde, Beaver Dam 1-6, 6-2, 10-4. No. 2 — Lindsay Propst, Beaver Dam, def. Anna Ballweg, Sauk Prairie, 6-0, 6-0. No. 3 — Grayce Klawitter, Beaver Dam, def. Olivia Joyce, Sauk Prairie, 6-1, 7-5. No. 4 — Cora Wendt, Beaver Dam, def. Devin O’Connor, Sauk Prairie, 6-3, 6-4.   Doubles No. 1 — Madelyn Connaughty-Abby Okon, Beaver Dam, def. Hannah Helt-Camdyn Kastelitz, Sauk Prairie, 6-4, 7-6 (1). No. 2 - Naomi Breunig- Cassie Ziegler, Sauk Prairie, def. Emily Gabel-Brooklyn Torres, Beaver Dam, 7-6 (5), 6-3. No. 3 - Faith Holler-Avery Leigh, Sauk Prairie, def. Lexi Bird-Emma Wendt, Beaver Dam, 6-4, 7-6 (4).