Red Raiders Hold Off Broncos in Tight Match
(Hastings, NE) – In a matchup of two teams that will likely meet up in the first round of the GPAC Tournament in two weeks, the Northwestern Red Raiders defeat the Hastings Broncos 5-2 on Friday.
Northwestern won the #1 doubles match by a 6-4 score over sophomores Josline Carter and Victoria Harris. Freshman Cara Ansbach and junior Paige Willcoxon held a 4-1 lead at #2 doubles, but the Red Raiders came back and took that match 6-4 to clinch the doubles point. The #3 doubles team of freshmen Kayleigh Cetak and Lexi Benson gave the Broncos some momentum going into singles with a 6-4 win.
Northwestern took the first set at #1 singles, then after Carter took a 3-0 lead in the second set, the Red Raiders won the next six games to win 6-3. Northwestern also won the #3 singles match by the score of 6-1, 6-1.
Hastings managed to win the first set in the other four singles matches, but the Red Raiders were able to rally back and win in two of them. Harris dominated her match at #2 singles, winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 to make the match score 3-1.
Ansbach came out strong and took the first set 6-3, then after trailing 3-2 in the second set, she managed to get ahead 4-3. Northwestern was able to come back however, as they won the second set 6-4. The Red Raiders led 4-1 in the third set, but Ansbach clawed her way back to trail 5-4 before Northwestern closed out the set to win the match, 6-4.
Benson won the first set at #5 singles, 6-3, then was tied at five-all in the second set when her opponent retired due to injury. Sophomore Abby Harveson had an impressive 6-2 first set win at #6 singles. She trailed 5-2 in the second set, then rallied to take a 6-5 lead. Northwestern rallied to force a tiebreak and used that momentum to win it 7-2. With the match already clinched, they played a super-tiebreaker for the third set. Harveson led 3-0 early but Northwestern won 10 of the next 12 points to make it 10-5.
Up next, Hastings will play at Nebraska Wesleyan on Tuesday, April 15 in a tune-up match for the GPAC Tournament.
