Comet netters defeat Spartans for fourth meet win of the season

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Taking seven out of nine varsity matches against Grundy Center during a home dual Tuesday at Sportsmen’s Park, the Charles City Comets girls tennis team won its fourth meet while getting back over .500 (4-3) for the season.

With senior Rylee DeBoest besting Spartan senior Bria Steinmeyer 8-3 in a pro-set match at No. 1 singles, freshman Sofia Alinea defeating freshman Ashlynn Draper 8-2 at No. 2, senior Hannah Hoffman shutting out freshman Kayden Kuiper 8-0 at No. 3, senior Jada Litterer rolling over freshman Kamren Thomas-Henley 8-1 at No. 4, and junior Anya Ruzicka shutting out freshman Nalani Eckhardt 8-0 at No. 6 — the Comets threatened to sweep all six singles matches with junior Alexis Eaves taking Spartan senior Jasmine Hjelle to the limits at No. 5 singles, the final match of the evening.

Hjelle took a 7-6 lead before Eaves tied it to force an extended set. After Hjelle went up 8-7, she served up a triple-break point advantage (40-0) before Eaves scored the next two points. During the ensuing rally, Eaves hit an overhand shot into the net which ended the match at 9-7.

The No. 1 doubles team of DeBoest and Hoffman, and the No. 2 doubles team of Alinea and Litterer both won their matches for the other Comet wins.

* The following Thursday, the Comets travelled to Aplington-Parkersburg and lost to the Falcons 7 matches to 2.

Eaves defeated Jayden Krausman 8-2 in No. 5 singles, and senior Marissa Avelar defeated Julia Mosteic 8-2 in No. 6 singles for the Comets’ wins.

Charles City was due to participate in the North Central Tennis Conference Tournament at Luther College on Saturday, but postponement seems imminent due to the weekend’s violent weather forecast.