The Reeths-Puffer girls tennis team has four experienced seniors playing singles this season, and it’s a real strength for the team.
Three of those seniors won their matches on Thursday, helping the Rockets salvage a 4-4 tie with a good North Muskegon squad in a non-conference matchup.
R-P’s Olivia Smith defeated North Muskegon’s Presley Prasad 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
Hope Latsch defeated Emmi VanWyck 7-6, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, and Kaityn Durow battled hard to beat Amahera Leos 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 at No. 4 singles.
The Rockets just missed a sweep in singles when Molly Matz lost two close sets to North Muskegon’s Grace Sheler in No. 3 singles.
Kaitlyn Durow, who won her matches against North Muskegon and Caledonia.
R-P’s fourth victory came at No. 4 doubles, where Brylee Grifford and Grace Cosens posted a 6-3, 6-3 win.
“Ties in tennis are frustrating as a team, but I am happy with the Rockets battling for a 4-4 tie against an experienced North Muskegon team,” said R-P head coach Ryan Hankinson.
“Individually many players battled in their flights, with six of the eight matches surpassing 2-plus hours of tennis, which shows just how close the matches were and how they could have gone in either direction.
“Getting three wins in singles was crucial, and is the current strength of this year’s roster. All four seniors have the best individual records on our team.
"Juniors Grace Cosens and Brylee Gifford, playing together for the first time in a match, were exceptional at four doubles."
The Rockets did not fare as well on Friday, falling 8-1 to Caledonia in an O-K Green conference match.
Durow got the only win of the day for the Rockets, rallying to beat Caledonia’s Yelena Wilks 6-7, 6-2, 6-1.