Kingsford’s Brett Hicks returns the ball during a singles match against Negaunee on Monday, April 30, 2018, in Negaunee, Mich. (Corey Kelly/The Mining Journal)

NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee High School boys tennis team defeated Kingsford 6-2 in its second meet of the season at the high school courts on Monday afternoon.

The Miners improved to 2-0-1 on the season after some strong matches against the Flivvers.

Negaunee head coach Kyle Saari said his team still has some early-season rust.

“You definitely can still tell that it’s early in the year,” he said. “We’re still kind of at a point just figuring out how to play outside again right now. It’s nice to be able to be out on our courts.

“We’ve got to clean up some footwork stuff yet, finishing at the net, kind of all the stuff where you’d be at the beginning of the year and even early on in April compared to where we’re at now, but there were some good things, too.”

The Miners took three out of the four singles matches, with the lone loss coming in No. 1 singles. Kingsford’s Brett Hicks defeated Negaunee’s Luke Skewis 6-4, 6-4.

In No. 2 singles, the Miners’ Chas Kumpula defeated the Flivvers’ Nick McCole 6-0, 6-3.

Saari credited Kumpula on a strong game and expects a good year from him.

“Chas played really well today,” he said. “He played a great first set, knows when to be aggressive and we’re excited to see the year he puts together there.”

No. 3 singles saw Thomas Sertich overcome Ethan Fox 6-0, 6-0, while at No. 4 singles, Will Luke defeated Caleb Boone 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles action, the Miners also took three out of four.

The duo of Peyton Anderson and Jake Larson of Negaunee defeated Preston Strong and Travis Taft 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-1 in No. 2 doubles, which proved to be the longest match of the day.

At No. 3, the Miners’ Ander Sorensen and Mason Hemmila defeated Matt Moreau and Jack Perpich 6-2, 6-3, while No. 4 doubles was a default to Negaunee’s Evan Hassell and Tom Kinjorski.

Kingsford’s doubles win was once again at No. 1, with the pairing of Tyler Beauchamp and Daunte Fortner topping Negaunee’s Jakson Sager and Drew Lindberg 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-2.

Negaunee travels to Gwinn for another meet today before hosting Ishpeming on Wednesday.

Negaunee 6, Kingsford 2

SINGLES — No. 1 — Brett Hicks (K) def. Luke Skewis 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 — Chas Kumpula (N) def. Nick McCole 6-0, 6-3; No. 3 — Thomas Sertich (N) def. Ethan Fox 6-0, 6-0; No. 4 — Will Luke (N) def. Caleb Boone 6-1, 6-2.

DOUBLES — No. 1 — Tyler Beauchamp-Daunte Fortner (K) def. Jakson Sager-Drew Lindberg 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-2; No. 2 — Peyton Anderson-Jake Larson (N) def. Preston Strong-Travis Taft 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-1; No. 3 — Ander Sorensen-Mason Hemmila (N) def. Matt Moreau-Jack Perpich 6-2, 6-3; No. 4 — Evan Hassell-Tom Kinjorski (N) won by default.