Comet netters avoid shutout against Decorah Vikings

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Down 3-0 in a pro-set race to eight, Charles City senior Hannah Hoffman rallied to defeat Decorah junior Klaara Short 8-4 in the No. 3 singles match during Tuesday’s Northeast Iowa Conference dual tennis meet at Sportsmen’s Park.

It proved to be the only match victory the Comets would record in an 8-1 meet win for the Vikings, who eliminated Charles City from postseason team competition in the semifinal round of the regionals last spring.

Charles City threatened to get a second win in the final completed varsity match of the day — Viking sophomore McKinley Massman versus Comet senior Anya Ruzicka at No. 6 singles.

Massman took a 4-1 lead in the pro-set, but Ruzicka — much like Hoffman earlier — found a rhythm and threatened to win her second varsity match of her newfound tennis career in as many tries.

“She has great footwork and coordination,” Charles City head coach Brian Parrott said of Ruzicka, who had helped the Comets defeat Hampton-Dumont-CAL 5-4 on Monday with her first varsity win.

“She’s doing really well in her first year in tennis,” Parrott said of Ruzicka, who eventually lost to Massman 8-6. “Too bad she started late as a senior.”

Charles City senior Rylee DeBoest also picked up a racket late in life when she decided to try the sport as a sophomore. Currently the Comets’ No. 1 singles player, DeBoest had her good moments against Decorah’s No. 1 — Olivia Huinker — but the Viking sophomore was not to be denied and prevailed 8-3.

Freshman Sofia Alinea, Charles City’s No. 2 singles player, also played well in stretches but lost to Decorah junior Camryn Holland 8-4.

Decorah freshman Myla Leitz defeated Jada Litterer 8-1 at No. 4 and sophomore Mara Branum defeated Marissa Avelar 8-2 at No. 5 for the other Vikings’ singles victories.

Decorah swept the doubles matches with Kaitlyn Bjork and Evon Leitz defeating DeBoest and Hoffman 8-4 at No. 1; Jaidyn Duvel and Leah Holland besting Alinea and Litterer 8-5 at No. 2; and Addison Maki and Dylin Thompson defeating Avelar and Ruzicka 8-1 at No. 3.

Charles City took six out of nine junior varsity matches from Decorah.