IRON RIVER — The West Iron County girls tennis team opened its 2022 season against the traditionally strong Negaunee Miners on Monday, falling 7-1 at the Nelson Field tennis courts.

West Iron got its victory at No. 1 singles where junior Aubrey Bice fought back to defeat Jordan Enright of Negaunee 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

“I was extremely proud of Aubrey Bice going out against a quality opponent in her first singles match ever and winning in a tough three-setter,” WIC coach Joe Serbentas said of Bice, who played doubles the previous two seasons. “What a great way for her to start the tennis season.”

Negaunee swept the other seven matches. Among those, West Iron’s closest results were at No. 2 singles where junior Sienna Stine fell to Aubrey Johnson 6-2, 6-4 and No. 3 singles where Destiny Lemery dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision to Rheana Nelson.

The results was not unexpected for the Wykons, who have four new singles players in the lineup after graduation losses.

“This was a tough way to start the season against a perennial powerhouse in tennis, Negaunee,” Serbentas said. “With our singles lineup in a total overhaul, I thought we handled ourselves quite well on court. There were nerves across the board on both teams, but the points in the upper flight matches were fun to watch and long.”

Serbentas said the first task for his players is to lessen unforced errors as the season progresses.

“We made many mistakes on shots that should be routine,” the veteran Wykons coach said. ” Doubles teams need to get better at keeping the ball on angles away from the net players.

“Overall for a first match, it was nice to get our feet wet and compete against a top-notch team in Negaunee.”

Compiled by staff writer Jerry DeRoche

Negaunee 7, West Iron County 1

SINGLES

No. 1 — Bice (WIC) def. Enright 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

No. 2 — Johnson (N) def. Stine 6-2, 6-4

No. 3 — Nelson (N) def. Lemery 6-3, 6-3

No. 4 — Saunders (N) def. Cronkright 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES

No. 1 — Harris-Frustaglio (N) def. Schmutzler-Bortolameolli 6-0, 6-3

No. 2 — Lunseth-Juntti (N) def. A. Smith-K. Smith 6-4, 6-1

No. 3 — Salmela-Peters (N) def. Hansen-Richardson 6-1, 6-1

No. 4 — Ring-Brunette (N) def. Lamay-Fanous 6-0, 6-0