Comet netters start off hot with 6-3 win over Hampton-Dumont

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — One thing can be said about Charles City’s girls tennis season- and home-opener against Hampton-Dumont, Thursday at Sportsmen’s Park.

At least the wind was relatively well behaved.

Good thing it was as the mid- to low-40s temperatures already provided enough chill to the playing conditions.

Nonetheless, it was a “hot” start for the hosting Comets as they won the dual 6 matches to 3.

“A win is a win,” said Comet head coach Brian Parrott, whose team was due to head to Grundy Center on Friday for its first road dual — weather permitting.

“The girls have learned a lot during these past weeks of practice,” Parrott said.

The Comets took four out of six of the singles matches, including the No. 1 singles match with sophomore Sofia Alinea rolling past Bulldog senior Ashley Chipahue 8-1 in a pro-set format match. Alinea has stepped up to the No. 1 singles slot for the Comets after being the team’s No. 2 singles player much of her freshman season.

“She was really hitting the ball well,” Parrott said of Alinea, who scored numerous passing shots and well-placed winners against Chipahue.

Comet senior Anya Ruzicka was just as dominant if not more during her shutout (8-0) No. 2 singles win over Abby Drier.

Charles City senior and returning letter-winner Marissa Avelar was a convincing 8-1 winner over Lauren Hill at No. 3 singles, and Comet senior Savannah Baldus picked up her first varsity win of her career when she defeated Autumn Janssen 8-2 at No. 4 singles.

The Comets came close to winning the No. 6 singles match, but junior Aubrey Michael lost an extended encounter (9-7) to Natalie Dohlman.

Bulldog sophomore Yesenia Valenzuela defeated Comet freshman Jacy Hall 8-3 in the No. 5 singles match.

Alinea and Ruzicka defeated Chipahue and Drier 8-3 in the No. 1 doubles match; and Avelar and Baldus rolled over Hill and Janssen 8-1 in the No. 2 doubles match.

Valenzuela and Mattelyn McGuire defeated Michael and sophomore Paige Pickar 8-5 in the No. 3 doubles match.