The Hastings Raiders girls tennis team faced a tough stretch in their second week of the season, squaring off against Roseville, Maple Grove, and Rochester Century. The results did not all tilt their way, but the week was marked by gritty play, standout individual wins, and moments that showed the Raiders’ depth and spirit.
The week opened on Monday, August 25, with a doubleheader that tested both stamina and nerves. First came Roseville, a clash that went the distance before tipping in favor of the visitors, 4-3. At the top of the lineup, Brooklyn Keller wasted no time establishing momentum, cruising past Imari Marquette 6-2, 6-0. Her sister, Reese Keller, followed suit at No. 2 singles with a steady 6-3, 6-1 victory over Abby Etten. The Raiders looked primed to secure the match early, but Roseville held firm in the middle and lower lineup.
Emery Hedeen fought hard at No. 3 singles before dropping a 6-3, 6-1 decision, and Wills Nelson ran into a tough opponent at No. 4, falling 6-0, 6-2. That set the stage for doubles to decide it. The Raiders picked up one strong win at the third spot, with Annie Majeski and Samantha Seaman pairing for a sharp 6-1, 6-3 result over Catherine Sagor and Naomi Bretz. But the other two courts went down to the wire. The first doubles team of Sophia Johnson and Jenna Brommerich split sets and battled into a match tiebreak, only to be edged 11-9 in a heartbreaker. On the second court, Evy Hogan and Maelyn Kirk were competitive but fell 6-4, 6-4. In the end, it was Roseville by the narrowest of margins.
Later that same day, Hastings squared off with Maple Grove, a perennial power that showed its depth across the board. The Crimson came away with a 6-1 victory, but the Raiders found a bright spot in doubles. Brooklyn and Reese Keller, already sharp in their singles wins earlier in the day, teamed up for a 6-4, 6-2 victory at first doubles, handing Hastings its lone point. The rest of the lineup faced stiff opposition, with Maple Grove controlling most of the singles and doubles courts in straight sets. While the score tilted heavily toward the Crimson, Hastings left with valuable lessons and the satisfaction of seeing the Kellers shine.
The week wrapped with a home match against Rochester Century, where the Raiders again came up short, this time 5-2, but showed flashes of high-level play. At the top two singles spots, the Keller sisters once again set the tone. Brooklyn fought through a three-set battle, taking the opening set 6-3, dropping the second 2-6, then holding her nerve in a 10-6 tiebreak to topple Catherine Li. Reese followed with a hard-earned 7-6, 6-4 win over Zoe Zhang, giving Hastings its two points on the day. Beyond that, the Panthers proved too strong. Rochester Century swept the remaining singles and doubles matches, sealing the overall victory on the Raiders’ home courts.
Though the final tally for the week stood at three losses, the Raiders left with no shortage of positives. The Keller sisters continue to anchor the lineup with consistent victories, while younger players like Majeski, Seaman, and Hedeen are gaining valuable court time against tough competition. Even in the losses, Hastings showed competitive fire, particularly in close doubles battles that could easily flip in future matches.
As the season stretches on, the Raiders will look to build on these performances, sharpen their doubles pairings, and turn near-misses into wins. The results may not have fully reflected the effort, but the energy and growth on display suggest that Hastings is steadily moving in the right direction.
The next chance to catch the Raiders in action is Sept. 3 against Apple Valley, then Sept. 4 against So. St. Paul and Sept. 9 against Simley. All three matches are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. start at Hastings High School.