IRON RIVER — One advantage that prep girls tennis teams have over their boys counterparts is that by playing in the fall, they don’t have to contend with the at-times bitter cold that spring can bring.

However, the flipside is that the girls are hampered with their mid-August start by the fact that the MHSAA dictates that official team practices can’t begin until, well, mid-August.

So when the Iron Mountain Mountaineers and the West Iron County Wykons took to the courts Friday in Iron River, the squads had just four practices each under their belts.

In an interesting set of matches, the Wykons prevailed 5-3, capturing three of the four doubles matches and adding victories at No. 2 and No. 4 singles.

“We’re just getting started, and while we’re still working on a few things and finishing up challenge matches, I’m proud of the effort the girls have shown, especially with only four days of practice leading into competition,” WIC coach Jen Schive said.

IM coach Keith Houtari, who didn’t know if he’d have a squad this fall until some late additions to the team this summer, said the contest was a plus for him and his players, as well.

“The Wykons won today’s match, but this felt like a team win for us, too,” Houtari said. “Not long ago we didn’t know if our program would survive. We all hoped it would, but we did wonder at times if the hours we were putting in on the practice court would go to waste. The support has been overwhelming, and we are very grateful to play.”

The team result included a forfeit by Iron Mountain, an injury default suffered by West Iron and a wild and entertaining No. 1 singles match that saw Mountaineer junior Alysia Wood roar back from a 5-1 deficit in the third set to fend off the spirited challenge of WIC sophomore Grace Smith 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.

The match featured all the ups-and-downs that the final tally suggested, but the two combatants engaged in some long and entertaining rallies, and both showed the potential and skill they possess.

“She’s a competitor and won’t quit,” Houtari said of Wood. “She also understands there is no clock in tennis. You have to win the points to win the match. She hung in there long enough to pull it out.”

Schive thought her new top singles player, who took the place of her graduated sister and last year’s Division 2 player of the year Kaitlyn Smith, held up well.

“Grace did an excellent job stepping into her first match at No. 1 singles as just a sophomore, showing great poise and determination,” Schive said.

The Wykons also received a tough performance from No. 2 singles Kaycee Ingram, who outdueled Avea Brown 7-5, 6-4 and an impressive outing from No. 1 doubles Destiny Lemery and Aubrey Richardson, who knocked off Lindsey Lewandowski and Ella Theisen 6-1, 6-2.

“Aubrey and Destiny continue to impress with their confident and strong-minded play,” Schive said. “I’m also excited to see what Kaycee brings to each of her matches at No. 2 singles.

West Iron’s No. 2 doubles team Olivia Lamay and Marlee Benson added a solid 6-1, 6-2 win over Grace Webb and Rhiannon Johnson, while No. 3 doubles Julia White and Vivian Holm won two tough sets over Olivia Geneva and Julianna Saldana to post a 7-5, 7-5 victory.

Finally, West Iron’s Taylor Economy won the No. 4 singles match by forfeit.

Aside from Wood’s triumph, the Mountaineers got a straight-set victory from No. 4 doubles Kailey Jayne and Penelope Geneva, who knocked off Rochelle Bear and Jenna Sunn 6-4, 6-4, and recorded a win from No. 3 Jacalyn Rowe when West Iron’s Erin Kolbas was unable to finish the match because of an injury.

“I couldn’t be happier for this team, even in defeat,” Houtari said. “Seven of the eleven girls who played today had never played a high school tennis match. But the girls listen, work hard, and have great attitudes. And they competed very well against a really good team. Jen and (assistant coach John Spelgatti) have run a solid program for many years.”