The Hastings Raiders girls tennis team wrapped up their third week of competition with a pair of contrasting matches that showed both tenacity and growth. The Raiders picked up a solid 5-2 victory over Apple Valley on Wednesday, then ran into a tough South Saint Paul squad on Thursday, falling 5-2. Both contests were played on the Raiders’ home courts.

Against Apple Valley, the Keller twins set the tone. At the top of the singles ladder, Brooklyn Keller blanked her opponent 6-0, 6-0, putting the Raiders on the board quickly. Reese Keller followed with an equally convincing 6-1, 6-1 win at the No. 2 spot. Those wins steadied the team and kept Hastings in front early.

The turning point came at No. 3 singles, where Evy Hogan fought back after dropping the first set 5-7. She regrouped, cruised through the second set 6-1, and then closed out a nail-biting super tiebreaker 10-7. That comeback put the Raiders just one step away from clinching the match.

Apple Valley’s lone singles win came at the fourth spot, where Eliza Braun edged Hastings’ Annie Majeski in a long three-setter. But Hastings’ doubles teams came through to finish the job. The pairing of Wills Nelson and Maelyn Kirk pulled out a tense 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 win at No. 2 doubles, while the duo of Megan Sieben and Nolee Kochendorfer bounced back after dropping their first set, storming to a 6-1 second set and sealing a 10-5 super tiebreaker.

With those victories, Hastings secured a 5-2 team win, giving the Raiders momentum heading into their next challenge.

That challenge came the very next afternoon when South Saint Paul arrived in Hastings. Once again, the Kellers delivered. Brooklyn rolled to another 6-0, 6-0 shutout, while Reese stayed sharp with a 6-3, 6-1 win. Unfortunately for Hastings, those were the only two points the team would earn.

South Saint Paul proved too deep across the rest of the lineup. At No. 3 singles, Emery Hedeen fell 6-1, 6-2, and at No. 4 singles, Nelson dropped a pair of close sets 6-3, 6-3. The doubles courts belonged entirely to the visitors, as South Saint Paul swept all three matches in straight sets. Even though Hastings battled hard, the Packers’ pairings were simply too steady.

When the week was done, Hastings split their two matches, moving to a record that reflects both progress and room for improvement. The consistent play from the top singles spots is giving the Raiders a strong foundation, and the doubles groups continue to gain valuable match experience in tight super tiebreakers.

Week three showed the Raiders can close out close contests, as they did against Apple Valley, but also revealed how much stronger they need to be across the full lineup when facing deeper opponents like South Saint Paul. With plenty of season left, Hastings will look to keep building balance, sharpening doubles chemistry, and leaning on the energy that players like Hogan, Nelson, Sieben, and Kochendorfer bring to the court.

For now, the Raiders can take pride in their midweek victory and the way they continue to fight in every match.