newsminer.com

Photo by Johnny Wagner

FAIRBANKS — The Lathrop Malemutes came up with some clutch performances in doubles matches to remain undefeated by posting a 6-1 victory over the Monroe Catholic Rams in Mid Alaska Conference high school tennis action Monday afternoon at the Dan Ramras Community Tennis Courts.

The Malemutes lost the first set of both the girls doubles and mixed doubles matches, but came back to win each by two points in a tie-breaker.

Lathrop’s Becca Gryder and Jessa Boertje pulled out the girls doubles match with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 triumph over Kelsea Hewitt and Christin Davis.

The mixed doubles match was another nail-biter as the Malemutes’ Anya Garrett and Kade Fitzgerald topped Monroe’s Cassie Ringstad and Joe Byrnes, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6.

Lathrop swept the girls singles matches. Mackenzie Calvillo captured the No. 1 match with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Eilish Saunders. Annelise Bachelder took the No. 2 match from Meg Jones, 6-0, 6-0.

Monroe’s lone point came in the No. 1 boys singles match where Eric Ringstad notched a hard-fought 6-2, 6-4 victory over Tyler Loud.

In the boys No. 2 singles match, Lathrop’s Sean Sullivan posted a 6-2, 6-0 win over Dan Bunten. The Lathrop team of Drew Lanning and Zach Fitzgerald downed Jim Winfree and Tyler Hill, 6-0, 6-0.

Lathrop hosts Eielson for Senior Night at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Ramras Courts and can clinch the conference championship with a win. Monroe returns to action against Hutchison at 3:15 p.m. Thursday at the Ramras courts.