AUSPICIOUS START
Gaels prevail in season tennis opener
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The St. Edmond girls tennis team opened defense of its North Central Conference title with a 5-4 victory over Iowa Falls-Alden at home on Tuesday evening.
Chloe Palmer, Abby Huss, Sophia Schlienz and Olivia Andrew claimed four points in singles wins, as the doubles team of Schlienz and Andrew secured the dual in doubles.
"Our girls had to really work for it out there," SEHS head coach Shawn Neverman said. "We know as the reigning four-time NCC champions, we are going to get the best version of our opponent, so it was great to see them pull it out.
"We have improvements we can make, and I know these girls will, as the season moves on."
Palmer, a senior, secured the win at the No. 1 singles spot with an 8-2 victory. Huss and Schlienz, also 12th-graders this year, added victories by scores of 8-6, and 8-4, with Andrew, a junior, winning 8-1.
In doubles, Schlienz and Andrew scored an 8-3 decision. Palmer and Huss fell, 8-5, while Nina Smith and Jade Rock dropped an 8-6 set.
St. Edmond received junior varsity wins from Abby Webster and Kaci McGonegle, Emmersyn Peters and Lizzy Tiernan, and Betsy Gruver and Mary Ella Gruver. Tiernan and Peters won two doubles matches.
The Gaels will conclude the first week of the season with duals at Carroll Kuemper on Thursday and Storm Lake back here on Friday.