Milbank Netters Battle with Aberdeen

The Milbank girls tennis team battled with two Aberdeen schools during a triangular in Aberdeen August 29. “We had a good battle with Roncalli,” said Milbank Head Tennis Coach Jim Dahl. “Four of our girls had very competitive matches in singles with Halli Essington and Hattie Muellenbach winning theirs. All considered, I felt our players fought hard through adversity having played Central earlier. It was a long day of tennis on the courts from 12:30 to 7 p.m. with little break time. It was a good conditioner and mental test for our team.”

The Lady Bulldogs lost 9-0 to Aberdeen Central. They fell 6-3 to Aberdeen Roncalli and stand at 2-4 for the season.

In addition to singles wins by Essington and Muellenbach, Milbank’s number one doubles team of Jodi DeVaal and Essington secured a victory. “They had a great match, but we could not get past the other two in doubles.”

Milbank takes a break over the Labor Day weekend, but will be back in action Tuesday, September 5. They host Watertown at Cantine Courts. Start time is 4 p.m.

Results from both matches:
Milbank 0, Aberdeen Central 9
Varsity singles – 1. Jodi DeVaal fell to Haley Gonsor, 10-6; 2. Halli Essington lost to Grace Douglas, 10-7; 3. Rhianna Cantine dropped to Mirra Frohling, 10-6; 4. Rhianna Welberg fell to Jennifer Appl, 10-0; 5. Hattie Muellenbach lost to Olivia Goetz, 10-3; 6. Jenna Johnson dropped to Megan Thone, 10-4.
Exhibition matches – Alexis Ninneman defeated Aliyah Giroux, 8-3; MacKenzie Michels defeated Aliyah Giroux, 8-2; Abby Michels downed Ronja Wilsdorf, 8-2.
Varsity doubles – 1. DeVaal/Essington fell to Gonsor/Douglas, 10-7; 2. Cantine/Welberg lost to Frohling/Appl, 10-2; 3. Muellenbach/Johnson dropped to Goetz/Lachelle Opp, 10-2.
Exhibition match – Ninneman/A. Michels defeated Giroux/Wilsdorf, 6-3.
Milbank 3, Aberdeen Roncalli 6
Varsity singles – 1. Jodi DeVaal fell to Elli Litzen, 10-5; 2. Halli Essington defeated Mariah Bradner, 10-8; 3. Rhianna Cantine lost to Abby Hanson, 10-6; 4. Rhianna Welberg dropped to Allison Schock, 10-2; 5. Hattie Muellenbach defeated Ali Muller, 11-9; 6. Jenna Johnson fell to Hallie Haskel, 10-3.
Exhibition matches – Alexis Ninneman fell to Gemini Cantelope, 8-0; MacKenzie Michels lost to Maria Barnett, 8-0.
Varsity doubles – 1. DeVaal/Essington defeated Litzen/Hanson, 10-8; 2. Cantine/Welberg fell to Bradner/Schock, 10-3; 3. Muellenbach/Johnson lost to Muller/Haskel, 10-3.
Exhibition match – Ninneman/A. Michels fell to Cantelope/Barnett, 8-2.

Photo: Halli Essington