NORWAY — The date of Sept. 6, 2022 will always be special for the Norway girls varsity tennis program. For that was the day that the Knights won their first match as a team, a 4-3 verdict over Ironwood in a match played in Norway.

In their third season, the Knights’ roster includes 11 players — five returners from last year and six who are playing for the first time. Norway is one player short of fielding a full squad, which requires four singles players and eight doubles players.

“This early in the season, I am very proud of where we are at as a team and as individual athletes,” Norway coach Cassandra Gustafson said. “These girls are determined to improve and continue to help our program grow. This win tonight is a really big accomplishment for us and I am looking forward to seeing more wins.”

The Knights posted victories at No. 1 singles, No. 3 singles, No. 4 singles and a forfeit victory at No. 3 doubles to nip the Red Devils.

Senior Donna VanHolla defeated Anneka Anderson 7-5, 6-4 at No. 1 singles, fellow senior Marley Tobey knocked off Hannah Castilla 6-4, 6-2 at No. 3 singles and sophomore Sadie Powell dominated Emily Kane 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.

Gustafson said that with so many new players on her squad she is working on different doubles combinations, trying to determine which players fit best together.

“Today, our No. 2 doubles team of freshman Ella Wojtowicz and junior Katie Stormquist, playing together for the first time, almost pulled off a win, playing a long match, winning one set and then falling to Ironwood in the 10 point tie-breaker,” the Knights coach said. “It was barn-burner until the end, and while the girls were disappointed, I was impressed by their dedication to go after every point.”

MOUNTAINEERS 6, WYKONS 2

IRON RIVER — Last week, the Iron Mountain girls varsity tennis team defeated West Iron 6-2 in a match held in Iron Mountain.

The rematch took place Tuesday at the Nelson Field tennis courts in Iron River and the Wykons flipped two matches to earn a draw.

West Iron’s No. 1 singles player Aubrey Bice and its No. 2 doubles team of Autumn and Katelyn Smith posted three-set wins this time to lift their team to a tie.

“This was a closely contested match, just like the first match we played against them last week Monday,” WIC coach Joe Serbentas said. “I feel like we are improving our awareness on big points and getting better at our decision-making during long points.

“This was a great improvement against a very solid Iron Mountain team,” he added.

The Mountaineers’ victories came from No. 2 singles Aziza Burgoon (a 6-4, 6-3 win over Seanna Stine), No. 3 singles Natalia Brown (a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alex Hansen), No. 4 singles Rediet Husing (a 6-0, 6-0 win over Taylor Bett) and No. 1 doubles Elle Lofholm and Anja Kleiman (6-1, 6-2 winners over Callista Bortolameolli and Lillie Schmutzler).

“While the team score was a step back from the last time we played West Iron, I’m still pleased with the way we played overall,” IM coach Marcus Celello said. “Aziza Burgoon, Natalia Brown, and Rediet Husing continued their strong starts to the season.

“Despite not always seeing the end results we’d hope for, our doubles teams are really starting to come around. Even in our losses, we stayed competitive and did a lot of things well.

“We are going to learn a lot about our team as the season ramps up and the competition continues to improve,” he said. “We need to stay sharp mentally in order to reach the goals we have set for ourselves.”

MINERS 8, FLIVVERS 0

NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee Miners captured 16 of the 17 sets played in their 8-0 victory over the visiting Kingsford Flivvers 8-0 on Tuesday in Negaunee.

“On paper, it doesn’t appear very well on our end, however, the scores don’t reflect the girls’ ability and how they played,” Kingsford coach Tracy Rutter said. “Ella Rizzo played her best match of the season (a 6-2, 6-3 setback at No. 3 singles). A lot of close points. In the end she came up short, but I am proud at how strong mentally she played today.”

Kingsford’s No. 4 doubles Ava Lovell and Libby Vross produced the Flivvers’ winning set when they defeated Autumn Ring and Paityn Brunette 6-2 in the second set of the Miner duo’s three-set victory.

Reports compiled by Daily News staff writers.