Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - It took waiting on a three-hour match to break a 2-2 tie, but for Manchester girls tennis coach Eric Christiansen, the wait was worth it.
Manchester won just its second match of the season by beating Whitko 3-2 Tuesday. Manchester improves to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in the Three Rivers Conference, while Whitko falls to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the TRC.
"Anytime you can win a match like this," Christiansen said, "it's good for the kids. These girls kept fighting.
"We were ready for a win no matter what. I was a little disappointed it got as close as it did, but Whitko did everything right and played great."
With the match tied at 2, juniors Megan Keffaber and Dawn Lauer gave Manchester the win by pulling out a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) win over Whitko senior Jodi Frantz and sophomore Brandy Bayles in a three-hour match.
"I knew it would be a close match with Whitko," Christiansen said. "I didn't think we would have any trouble at No. 2 doubles. We were able to beat their No. 2 doubles pretty easily Saturday at the TRC Tournament, but Whitko's No. 2 doubles team just played much better this time.
"It was the same two girls for them. They just didn't make as many mistakes."
A veteran Manchester team entered Monday's match in a season-long slump, while Whitko was coming off a 3-2 Monday win over Southwood.
One other match went to three sets. Whitko senior Staci Warner beat Manchester senior Jamie Lauer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the No. 1 singles match.
Manchester's other wins came at No. 3 singles, where senior Rachel Bushong dismissed Whitko freshman Emily Crist 6-1, 6-4, and at No. 1 doubles, where senior Allison Ingold and junior Erin Beyer beat senior Hilari Ayres and sophomore Chelsey Grant 6-2, 6-3.
Whitko sophomore Brooke Workman won the No. 2 singles match 6-4, 6-4 over Manchester senior Molly McWithey.
At 2-6, the season hasn't gone as expected for Manchester - the Squires' lineup features four seniors and three juniors - so Christiansen and his players will take wins any way they can get them.
"Frustrating would be a good word," he said. "Not me frustrated with the girls. The girls are frustrated. We have five players in their third year of varsity tennis. This is the year we thought we could be good record-wise.
"We still have time to turn it around."
Manchester hosts Peru at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Whitko hosts Triton at 4:30 p.m. today.
MANCHESTER 3, WHITKO 2
Singles
No. 1 - Stacie Warner (W) def. Jamie Lauer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
No. 2 - Brooke Workman (W) def. Molly McWithey 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 -ÊRachel Bushong (M) def. Emily Crist 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊAllison Ingold/Erin Beyer (M) def. Hilari Ayres/Chelsey Grant 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 - Megan Keffaber/Dawn Lauer (M) def. Jodi Frantz/Brandy Bayles 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4)
