The Hastings girls tennis team finally completed its regular season Thursday, Oct. 1, finishing a match against Two Rivers that had been interrupted twice by weather.
Two Rivers won the Metro East Conference dual 6-1, leaving Hastings with a 5-9 overall record entering the Section 3AAA team tournament. The Raiders finished 2-5 in section play and 2-5 in the conference.
The match originally began Sept. 24 in Hastings before being suspended. It was rescheduled, only to be interrupted again by rain, before the teams were finally able to complete the dual Oct. 1.
Hastings picked up its victory at No. 2 doubles, where Annie Majeski and Nolee Kochendorfer defeated Mia Walz and Gabby Stevens in three sets. The Raider pair won the first set 7-6, dropped the second 6-3 and responded with a 6-3 victory in the deciding set.
Several other matches also gave Hastings opportunities to push Two Rivers.
At No. 2 singles, Maelyn Kirk won her opening set against Clara Rebhan, 6-3. Rebhan answered with a 6-2 victory in the second set before taking the third set 6-2 to earn the point for Two Rivers.
The No. 1 doubles match also went three sets. Sophia Johnson and Samantha Seaman faced Kyla Gatti and Norah Doyle. Two Rivers took the opening set 6-4, but Johnson and Seaman answered with a 7-5 victory in the second. Gatti and Doyle won the final set 6-1.
At No. 1 singles, Hastings' Emery Hedeen battled Erica Eckmann through a tight opening set. Eckmann prevailed 7-5 before taking the second set 6-1.
Evy Hogan represented Hastings at No. 3 singles against Zakia Qiblawi. Qiblawi won 6-3, 6-4. At No. 4 singles, Andee Kochendorfer faced Alejandra Fuentes, who also earned a 6-3, 6-4 victory for Two Rivers.
The No. 3 doubles match featured Megan Sieben and Briella Bauer for Hastings against Charlotte Boline and Molly Cheesebrough. Boline and Cheesebrough edged the Hastings pair 7-5 in the opening set before winning the second 6-1.
The loss brought an end to a regular season in which Hastings collected five dual victories. The Raiders defeated Park of Cottage Grove during their season-opening quadrangular, then added victories against Farmington, North St. Paul, Tartan and Apple Valley.
Hastings also played several close duals during the season. The Raiders fell 4-3 to Simley and Eastview before later defeating Apple Valley 5-2.
With the regular season complete, Hastings turned its attention to the Section 3AAA team tournament. The Raiders were scheduled to host Rosemount Monday, Oct. 5, in the opening round. The winner was scheduled to advance Tuesday, Oct. 6, to face the winner of the Park of Cottage Grove and East Ridge first-round match.