KINGSFORD — The Kingsford girls tennis team faced a steep climb to begin the week, traveling to Marquette on Monday and then hosting Escanaba on Tuesday.

The Flivvers lost both matches 8-0. After the Escanaba match at the Kingsford High School tennis courts, Flivvers’ coach Tracy Rutter said her team needs a work day.

“As a whole, we need to work on some minor adjustments,” Rutter said. “With having back-to-back matches, we haven’t had an open practice day to ‘fix’ anything.”

Kingsford’s performance included impressive showings at No. 3 and No. 2 doubles.

In the third doubles flight, Kingsford’s Aubrey Phillips and Audrey Veale dropped their opening set against Isy Braun and Sophie Wagner, but fought back to win the second set tiebreaker 7-1. The Esky duo answered to take the third set to record a 6-1, 6-7 (1), 6-4 triumph.

The Flivvers’ No. 2 doubles duo of Addison Rutter and Linnea Grubb battled Sam Manninen and Leslie Purcell before falling 6-3, 7-5 (5).

“Our No. 2 and No. 3 doubles both had a hard-fought battle,” Coach Rutter said. “Came up short in the end but they all did a great job.”

Kingsford’s Paige Janousek also competed well in the first set against Sonya Maki before Escanaba’s No. 2 singles player posted the 6-4, 6-2 victory.

The Eskymos swept the other matches rather comfortably. At No. 1 singles, Sophia Derkos upended Kingsford’s Blaskowski 6-1, 6-2. At No. 3 singles, Molly VanDamme knocked off Kingsford’s Ella Rizzo 6-1, 6-0, and at No. 4 singles, Maggie Martin defeated Allette Shanks 6-0, 6-3.

In the top doubles flight, Escanaba’s Delaney McIntyre and Natalie Williams powered past Ellyce Doenier and Lexie Vross 6-1, 6-0. Finally, Carly Bowden and Danni Hughes defeated Kingsford’s Ava Lovell and Libby Vross 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 doubles.

Coach Rutter spoke confidently about her 1-2 squad afterward.

“The beginning of the season always comes with challenges but I am confident in the team,” she said. “We will get where we need to be.”

Next on the schedule for the Flivvers is a home match against Iron Mountain today. Menominee will travel to Kingsford on Tuesday.

Compiled by staff writer Jerry DeRoche

TUESDAY, AUG. 23

ESCANABA 8, KINGSORD 0

At Kingsford

SINGLES:

No. 1 — Derkos (E) def. Blaskowski 6-1 , 6-2

No. 2 — Maki (E) def. Janousek 6-4, 6-2

No. 3 — VanDamme (E) def. Rizzo 6-1, 6-0

No. 4 — Martin (E) def. Shanks 6-0, 6-3

DOUBLES:

No. 1 — McIntyre-Williams (E) def. Doenier-Lex. Vross 6-1, 6-0

No. 2 — Manninen-Purcell (E) def. Rutter-Grubb 6-3, 7-6 (5)

No. 3 — Braun-Wagner (E) def. Phillips-Veale 6-1, 6-7 (1), 6-4

No. 4 — Bowden-Hughes (E) def. Lovell- Lib. Vross 6-2, 6-2