Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Chloe Palmer of St. Edmond returns a shot during the NCC girls tennis tournament on Wednesday in Webster City. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

WEBSTER CITY — A change to the format of the North Central Conference girls tennis tournament did not cause a change in the final result for St. Edmond.

For the fourth consecutive season, the Gaels secured top honors, winning one doubles bracket while finishing second in two others and third in a fourth.

Webster City and Iowa Falls-Alden tied for runner-up honors, followed by Clear Lake, Nevada, Charles City and Hampton-Dumont/CAL.

This year, there were two singles and two doubles divisions. Ava Andrew, a senior who has been on all four title teams, was third at No. 1 singles, and junior Abby Huss finished runner-up at the No. 2 singles position.

In doubles, senior Ava Underberg and junior Chloe Palmer took second at No. 1. Sophomore Olivia Andrew and junior Sophia Schlienz won the No. 2 doubles bracket.

Olivia Andrew and Schlienz were the top-seed at No. 2 and did not drop a set, winning in the finals over a pair from Clear Lake, 6-4, 6-4. The only loss for Ava Andrew only loss came to eventual singles winner Sofia Aliena of Charles City in the semifinals.

“The girls came into the day as the favorites and took care of business,” SEHS head coach Shawn Neverman said. “They had no problem dealing with the pressure (of expectations).

“Coaching when there are so many expectations makes me more nervous than the girls playing, but I’m super proud of the way they all stepped up and competed.”

The Gaels went a perfect 7-0 in duals this fall season, securing a second straight unbeaten run. They have not lost a league dual since 2022, going a combined 41-6 over the past four years, with three of those being postseason losses.

For Webster City, No. 1 seed Allie Severe and Alivia Burns claimed the top doubles bracket, not dropping a set on the day. They pulled out a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Underberg and Palmer in the finals.

Sylvia Otteros captured third at No. 2 singles, Natalie Segar and Olivia Bergman finished fourth at No. 2 doubles, and Gabbie Sebert was fifth at No. 1 singles for Webster City.

Next action for St. Edmond will be when they head to Waterloo next Wednesday for Class 1A individual regionals. Joining the Gaels will be Aplington-Parkersburg, Central DeWitt, host Waterloo Columbus, Dike-New Hartford, Independence, Pella Christian, Union and Waverly-Shell Rock.

Webster City, meanwhile, competes in a 1A qualifier in Boone alongside Ballard, Bishop Heelan, the host Toreadors, Carroll Kuemper, Nevada, North Polk and Saydel.