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U.P. GIRLS TENNIS FINALS — Cross claims a U.P. title

Flivver junior wins Division 1 No. 4 singles flight

NEGAUNEE — All good things must come to an end.

After a five-year run as Upper Peninsula Division 1 champion, the Negaunee girls tennis team was dethroned by Marquette on Wednesday at the MHSAA Final played at the Negaunee Tennis Complex.

The Redettes claimed the team title for the first time since 2005, earning 17 points to the Miners’ 10. Menominee was third with seven points, while Kingsford and Escanaba each had six and Gladstone three.

Marquette advanced to six out of eight flight finals, including all four singles matches, while the Miners advanced to three. The Maroons also competed in three flights, while the Flivvers made it to two flights and the Braves and Eskymos each to one.

Kingsford’s Lizzy Cross was the only non Redette or Miner to win a singles final, claiming the No. 4 title with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Marquette’s Haddie Ketzenberger.

Kingsford’s Liz Penegor and Jenna Olkkonen made the No. 4 doubles final but fell 6-0, 6-0 to Julianna Golisek and Alyson LaBelle of Marquette.

“I am very proud of my girls on their season,” Flivvers head coach Tracy Rutter said. “Today was very exciting for Lizzy, Liz and Jenna for placing in the U.P.’s.”

The team title was a long time coming for Marquette, and head coach Derek Sandstrom has seen many athletes come through the program over the years who came up just a little bit short.

“It’s been a while; it’s been a long time,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of great girls along the way who didn’t get to this point, but I don’t want to belittle them at all. We’ve had some great tennis players and great kids come through this program. This group is just the one that brought home a trophy.”

The Redettes claimed four finals flights, two singles and two doubles.

In the top singles flight, Elysa Olivier topped Menominee’s Jenna Nolde 6-0, 6-2 to cap an undefeated senior season and earn the third individual Finals title of her high school career.

The Redettes’ other singles win came in the No. 2 flight, with fellow senior Mollie Kilpela topping Menominee’s Josie Hofer in two sets, 7-6, 7-6.

Marquette also claimed Nos. 3 and 4 doubles, with the team of Zoey Brian and Ruth Hummell topping Escanaba’s Maddy Michica and Gracie Wickham 6-4, 6-4 in the third flight, while Julianna Golisek and Alyson LaBelle defeated Kingsford’s Liz Penegor and Jenna Olkkonen 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4.

Lexi Mason defeated Marquette’s Campbell Kallio at No. 3 singles in two sets, 6-3, 7-5. Negaunee also claimed the top two doubles flights, with the team of Morgan Carlson and Katelyn Lammi topping Menominee’s Megan Francour and Emma Anderson 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1, and the team of Shaylee Menhennick and Tianna Williams edging Gladstone’s Emily Marenger and Emma DeLaire 6-3, 6-2.

1. Marquette 17, 2. Negaunee 10, 3. Menominee 7, 4. Escanaba 6, 4. Kingsford 6, 6. Gladstone 3

SINGLES: No. 1, Elysa Olivier (MQT) def. Jenna Nolde (MEN) 6-0, 6-2; No. 2, Mollie Kilpela (MQT) def. Josie Hofer (MEN) 6-0, 6-1; No. 3, Lexi Mason (NEG) def. Campbell Kallio (MQT) 6-3, 7-5; No. 4, Lizzy Cross (KNG) def. Haddie Ketzenberger (MQT) 6-3, 6-2.

DOUBLES:?No. 1, Morgan Carlson-Katelyn Lammi (NEG) def. Megan Francour-Emma Anderson (MEN) 6-2, 6-1; No. 2, Shaylee Menhennick-Tianna Williams (NEG) def. Emily Marenger-Emma DeLaire (GLAD) 6-3, 6-2; No. 3, Zoey Brian-Ruth Hummell (MQT) def. Maddy Mishica-Gracie Wickham (ESC) 6-4, 6-4; No. 4, Julianna Golisek-Alyson LaBelle (MQT) def. Liz Penegor-Jenna Olkkonen (KNG) 6-0, 6-0.

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