Promise Being Seen by HC Girls’ Tennis Despite 0-2 Start

Promise Being Seen by HC Girls’ Tennis Despite 0-2 Start -

(8-14-26) – Not as bad as the final score indicated.

That was Harlan Community Girls’ Tennis Assistant Coach Michael Rueschenberg’s assessment of his team’s performance after falling to Atlantic, 9-0, on Thursday.

“We felt, there were some positives to take away,” Rueschenberg told KNOD Sports on Friday.

For one thing, Rueschenberg was impressed with the doubles team of Sophie Freund and Kerrigan Kruse against Atlantic on Thursday, despite falling in a tiebraker, 9-8, to the Trojans Dylin Ball and Taryn O’Brien.

“Coaches always preach communication and it's the same in doubles and tennis and they did an awesome job of talking yesterday and being aggressive at the net, both of them. So again, we're hopeful that doubles team is one we can utilize going forward.”

The pair actually won 12 games each on the afternoon.

Kruse was also bumped up with a pair of varsity players missing the match and played as the No. 4, falling to O’Brien, 8-4 in her singles match.

“We were happy with Kerrigan,” said Rueschenberg of his senior's effort. “Not only did she have a 4-8 competitive loss and really competitive doubles match, but that was when she was bumped up to a position. So, we'll be excited to see what she can do when she's in her regular No. 6 spot.”

The missing varsity players also gave Ava Bauman and Stephanie Urizar-Lopez an opportunity get some valuable varsity experience.

Rueschenberg hopes that his team is building the self-assurance they need to succeed and secure wins.

“Both Coach (Dillon) Stane and I thought we played maybe with a little more confidence yesterday and just played a little more competitive points, a lot of games to do, some things like that. So we hope that gives them a little bit of confidence.”

The Cyclone tennis team’s match against Kuemper Catholic was postponed due to weather Friday, so they’ll work on their game until the hit the road on Thursday against Clarinda.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats