DES MOINES — The Marshalltown girls’ tennis team bounced back from its first loss of the fall season in a big way, beating Des Moines East 10-1 on Tuesday in an Iowa Alliance Conference dual.
The Bobcats (4-1, 3-1) won their 10 matches all in straight sets, taking the first 10 contests in convincing fashion. Marshalltown’s lone loss came from the No. 5 doubles team as Ciomara Villela and Madisyn Daggett were defeated in their hard-fought varsity debuts, 6-3, 2-6, (12-10).
Marshalltown got 6-0, 6-0 wins from three singles spots, as No. 1 Kate Sandvick improved to 4-1 this season. Jorja Janssen took the No. 3 singles role and rattled off a 6-0, 6-0 victory to move to 5-0, and Lilyia Christen was a 6-0, 6-0 winner at No. 4.
Kaelyn Coleman at No. 5 and Grace Diggins at No. 6 both won 6-1, 6-0, and Ellie Downs notched a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles.
Christen and Janssen improved to 4-1 in doubles play with a 6-0, 6-1 triumph at No. 1, while Coleman and Hanna Osgood got to 3-1 for the fall with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2. Diggins and Taylor Bear racked up a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 3, while Trista Bratland and Ellison Wittkop captured a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 4 doubles.
“With two matches on Thursday and three more on Friday it was great to get Kate and Ellie some rest during doubles,” said MHS head coach James Christensen. “That also allowed the other girls to bump up a spot and play better competition.”
Marshalltown moves on to two more road events this week, starting Thursday with a double dual in Boone that includes Des Moines Hoover. The Bobcats meet the host Toreadors at 10 a.m. before facing Hoover at 1 p.m.
On Friday, MHS competes alongside Indianola and Southeast Polk in Ankeny’s Hawkette Invite at 10 a.m. at the Ankeny Tennis Center.
“Looking for a good day of practice tomorrow and hope to bring a ton of energy to the court in Boone,” Christensen said.