WILLMAR -- The Willmar Cardinals' inexperience showed in their season debut Thursday, first losing to the Hutchinson Tigers 7-0 and then the New London-Spicer Wildcats 6-1.
Hutchinson started the afternoon triangular tipping NLS 5-2 in windy conditions under threatening skies.
The Cardinals were the last of the three teams to open the season. With six rookies marking their varsity debut, the results were not unexpected.
"Things went a lot better in the second match," said coach Erika Kath. "We're trying to figure out our doubles lineup and I think we came up with something that we'll try for a while."
This was the third event for the Wildcats. They appeared strong at singles where No. 1 Megan Seipel and No. 2 Angie Wiegmann were both undefeated.
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NLS finished seventh at the loaded Pine City Invitational last week and went 1-2 at its own quadrangular on Tuesday. Coach Chad Schmiesing said he has six seasoned players returning.
Jennifer Peterson at No. 1 for Willmar won the first set against Hutchinson's Ashley Ebert, who rallied to win the second set 6-2, and then took the tiebreaker 11-9. Peterson fell to Seipel 6-4, 6-1.
Hannah Okins got Willmar's win in the NLS match at 4-singles.
"We saw a lot we need to work on," said Kath, "but we also saw a lot of positives."
Haylee Thompson and Sarah Paterson filled out the Willmar singles lineup for the opener. Willmar is next at the Litchfield quadrangular with Eagan and Elk River on Monday.
Hutchinson 5, NL-Spicer 2
Singles
(1) Megan Seipel, NLS, def. Ashley Ebert 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (2) Angie Wiegmann, NLS, def. Kendra Pasco 6-2, 6-2 (3) Taylor Reiner, Hut, def. Courtney Edwards 6-1, 6-2 (4) Brynn Haugen, Hut, def. Kelly Cappelen 6-1, 6-2
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Doubles
(1) Nora McGraw-Alex Braun, Hut, def. Jennesa Johnson-Liz Kampstra 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 (2) Kaitlin Cannon-Emily Seller, Hut, def. Wendy Toops-Lauren Rustad 6-2, 6-3 (3) Emily Klitzke-Laura Westlund, Hut, def. Becca Emery-Renae Henjum 7-5, 6-3
Hutchinson 7, Willmar 0
Singles
(1) Ashley Ebert, Hut, def. Jennifer Peterson 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 11-9 (2) Kendra Paco, Hut, def. Haylee Thompson 6-2, 6-2 (3) Taylor Reiner, Hut, def. Sarah Paterson 6-2, 6-2 (4) Brynn Haugen, Hut, def. Hannah Okins 6-3, 6-0
Doubles
(1) Alex Braun-Norta McGraw, Hut, def. Emily Kack-Katie Switzer 6-1, 6-2 (2) Emilly Seller Kaitlin Cannon, Hut, def. Tricia Forshaug-Becca Jacobson 6-0, 6-2 (3) Emily Klitzke-Laura Engwall, Hut, def. Ariel Johnson/Ashley Johnson 6-2, 6-2
NL-Spicer 6, Willmar 1
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Singles
(1) Megan Seipel, NLS, def. Jennifer Peterson 6-4, 6-1 (2) Angie Wiegmann, NLS, def. Haylee Thompson 6-1, 6-2 (3) Courtney Edwards, NLS, def. Sarah Paterson 6-3, 6-4 (4) Hannah Okins, Wil, def. Kelly Cappelen 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
(1) Jennessa Johnson-Elizabeth Kampstra, NLS, def. Emily Kack-Becca Jacobson 6-3, 6-2 (2) Wendy Toops-Laura Rustad, NLS, def. Tricia Foshaug-Katie Switzer 6-3, 6-3 (3) Renae Henjum-Becca Emery, NLS, def. Ariel Johnson-Ashley Johnson 6-4, 6-4
