Comet netters win final two singles matches to defeat Mason City 5-4

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Sometimes what you don’t know won’t hurt you.

Charles City senior Marissa Avelar had no idea that her No. 3 singles match against Mason City senior Annora Lewerke was the decider in a dual meet locked at 4 match wins apiece. It may not have mattered, anyway, as Avelar capped the early evening with an 8-5 pro-set victory resulting in a Comet team victory, Monday at Sportsmen’s Park.

The Riverhawks had gone up 4 matches to 3 in a race to 5 in the nine-match varsity meet. When Comet senior Anya Ruzicka put away Riverhawk senior Olivia Wickman 8-6 in back-and-forth No. 2 singles match, the meet was tied with Avelar and Lewerke the only varsity players on the court.

Avelar went up 7-3, but with the wind sometimes blowing violently and determining points, no lead was safe and Lewerke began to rally. When she broke Avelar’s serve, Lewerke pulled within 2 games (7-5).

But Avelar responded by breaking Lewerke’s ensuing serve while winning every point and sealing the Comet victory.

Charles City freshman Jacy Hall defeated MC sophomore Estella Huesman in No. 5 singles; Charles City sophomore Sofia Alinea and Ruzicka defeated Annora Lewerke and Wickman in No. 1 doubles (8-3); and Hall and freshman Joselin Bonnstetter defeated junior Avery Fiser and senior Claire Sampson in No. 3 doubles (8-2) in the other match wins for the Comets, which improved to 3-1.

Senior Tamar Lewerke defeated Alinea in No. 1 singles (8-2); junior Lily Clausen defeated senior Savannah Baldus in No. 4 singles; junior Addison Dannen defeated Bonnstetter in No. 6 singles (8-2); and Tamar Lewerke and Clausen defeated Avelar and Baldus in No. 2 doubles for the Riverhawks (2-4).

The Comets will be back in action Thursday (April 17) when they host the Osage Green Devils at Sportsmen’s Park.