The Hastings Raiders girls tennis team packed plenty of action into the past week, rattling off match after match with confidence, energy, and no shortage of highlight moments. From quick sweeps early in the week to a dramatic finish under fading sunlight against Rosemount, the Raiders showed both dominance and grit. Junior varsity added its own spark with a strong showing at the conference tournament, making the stretch one of the busiest yet most rewarding of the fall.
Head coach Marissa Welch summed it up with a smile.
“Girls tennis had a fantastic week filled with matches,” she said. “Both JV and V dominated in their matches to start Mon, Tues, and Wed.”
The run began with a clean 7-0 sweep over North Saint Paul. The Raiders wasted no time setting the tone, as the Keller sisters, Brooklyn at No. 1 singles and Reese at No. 2, breezed to straight-set wins without dropping a game. Consistency has been their calling card, and their sharp play anchored the rest of the lineup. Jenna Brommerich and Evy Hogan joined the fun with convincing wins at the third and fourth singles spots. Doubles play was just as steady, with Sophia Johnson and Emery Hedeen gutting out a two-set win at the top position, while the pairs of Maelyn Kirk with Wills Nelson and Annie Majeski with Samantha Seaman handled business quickly in straight sets.
The momentum carried into the matchup with Farmington, another 7-0 result that highlighted both dominance and drama. Brooklyn and Reese again swept their singles matches by scores of 6-0, 6-0, making it look routine. Hedeen controlled her match at No. 3 singles, and Hogan turned her court into the match of the night. After splitting the first two sets in a tiebreak and a 4-6 grind, she fought through a nail-biting super tiebreak to edge Farmington’s Kylie Goodreau, 15-13. Her teammates cheered her through every point, and her win sealed another sweep for the Raiders. On the doubles side, Johnson and Brommerich showed their chemistry with a 6-2, 6-4 victory, Kirk and Nelson were sharp in a 6-2, 6-0 finish, and the new pairing of Megan Sieben and Nolee Kochendorfer closed the door with a 6-1, 6-1 performance.
Tuesday’s slate continued with another dominant 7-0 victory, this time over Tartan. Brooklyn and Reese kept rolling at the top of the lineup, each delivering 6-0, 6-0 scores, while Brommerich and Seaman completed the singles sweep. Doubles play was sharp across the board, with Johnson and Hedeen in control at the top spot, Kirk and Nelson winning 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2, and Majeski and Briella Bauer teaming up for a 6-2, 6-1 win. The Raiders looked unstoppable through the first three matches of the week, showing depth from top to bottom.
The most memorable moment came not in a victory, but in the completion of a suspended match against Rosemount. The two teams squared off late into the evening, with Hastings battling both a tough section opponent and the setting sun. Brooklyn Keller once again put the Raiders on the board with a flawless 6-0, 6-0 showing, and Reese added a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles. After that, Rosemount’s depth began to take hold, and the Irish clawed back to secure a 5-2 team win. Still, the atmosphere was special.
“Varsity got to finish our match against Rosemount which turned out to be a really cool night,” Welch said. “We were up against daylight in those last matches. We unfortunately fell to that section opponent, but it was still a cool experience outside later in the evening.”
If Rosemount provided a reminder of the challenges to come in postseason play, Simley offered a chance to bounce back, and the Raiders did exactly that with a 6-1 victory. Brooklyn and Reese once again blanked their opponents at the top two singles positions, showing why they have been such reliable leaders all season. Evy Hogan dropped her match at No. 3, but Nolee Kochendorfer stepped up at No. 4, fighting through a three-set thriller to win 6-7, 6-4, 10-8. It was the kind of comeback win that brings energy to the entire team. Doubles once again delivered a clean sweep, with Johnson and Hedeen winning 6-3, 6-2, Kirk and Nelson steady at 6-3, 6-4, and Majeski with Seaman cruising 6-2, 6-0.
While varsity rolled through its heavy match schedule, junior varsity capped the week with its conference tournament, sending thirteen players into competition across various brackets. The group made its presence felt. Andee Kochendorfer took third place at No. 1 singles, showing grit against a tough field. Brianna Osendorf and Alyssa Wenskaug paired up for a fourth-place finish at No. 1 doubles, while Leighton Morgan and Savannah Munson also earned fourth at No. 2 doubles. Addi Strohfus rounded out the places with a fourth-place finish at No. 2 singles. For a squad that travels deep, it was another sign of the program’s growing depth.
The Raiders have put themselves in a strong position, riding the steady play of their top singles players, the resilience of their doubles teams, and the competitive spirit running through the entire roster. With the postseason on the horizon, the past week showed exactly what Hastings tennis is all about, depth, determination, and plenty of fun.
Looking ahead, the varsity regular season concludes Sept. 24 when Hastings heads to Two Rivers with a 4:00 p.m. match. Then the team wraps up with its “Senior Smash” and sets up practice for the post season. The conference tournament starts Sept. 30 at the high seed, which is yet to be determined. The semifinals for the team tournament take place on Oct. 1, again at the high seed, both matches start at 4:00 p.m. The final round take place at the Baseline Tennis Center at the University of Minnesota on Oct. 6. Times to be determined.