Girls Tennis: Lake City takes second at John Marshall invite

Lake City took second place Saturday at the Rochester John Marshall Invitational, going 2-1.

It was the Tigers best finish at the Rochester invite since 1989.

“The girls were very excited, needless to say,” Lake City head coach Dave Toole said.

In the Tigers’ first match against La Crosse Aquinas, junior Josie Kuchinka rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 10-6 comeback victory to seal a 4-3 win for the team.

“That was a huge victory for Josie,” Toole said.

Senior Amy Orthaus also won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1 singles and Lake City got two wins at doubles. Seniors Katie Wallerich and Allison Harvey won 6-1, 7-5 at No. 1 doubles while junior Katie Coyle and sophomore Braeden McElmury won 7-5, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles. Wallerich and Harvey went undefeated on the day.

The Tigers (10-4, 3-1 HVL) got another 4-3 victory against Apple Valley in their next match.

Orthaus won again at No. 1 singles against Malini Wijesinghe, 6-1, 6-4, for Lake City’s only singles victory.

But again the doubles team stepped up to sweep Apple Valley. Wallerich and Harvey came out on top at No. 1 doubles 6-1, 2-6, 11-9, Coyle and McElmury won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles and senior Emily Moechnig and sophomore Erica Hubbard secured a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 3 doubles to earn a spot in the finals of the tournament.

“(The doubles) are cooking,” Toole said. “And we kind of depend on Amy for a win at No. 1 singles.”

In the final, Owatonna stopped the Tigers’ run, downing the Tigers 6-1.

Wallerich and Harvey tallied Lake City’s lone win.

The Tigers host Rochester Lourdes Tuesday to decide the top team in the Hiawatha Valley League.

Tags: girls tennis, lake city, sports, prep