Beatrice’s top singles players and doubles team continued their tune up for the upcoming Class B State tennis meet, while several younger players also had the opportunity to see varsity action Tuesday.
The Lady Orange ended up dropping their home dual to Waverly, 5-4.
“The thing about today is we put some of our younger girls into varsity spots today to give them a chance to play,” Beatrice coach Phil Cook said. “They all did a good job, but just came up a little short.”
Cook said it’s good to get the underclassmen in the lineup and start getting them ready for next year.
“We just had three seniors playing today out of 12 (varsity) girls,” Cook said.
Beatrice freshman Shelby Lauritsen, currently projected as the Lady Orange’s No. 1 singles player for state, earned an 8-4 win in her singles match.
Cook said Lauritsen is playing “pretty darn good” for a freshman.
“I was very impressed with Shelby Lauritsen coming back after being down 4-3 to win 8-4,” Cook said. “She was playing a very good girl, who’s a junior.”
In just her third match playing No. 1 singles, Lauritsen is 2-1 for the Lady Orange, Cook said.
No. 2 singles player Betsy Havekost lost a close match to her Waverly opponent, 8-6.
Beatrice won both its No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches with its state tournament teams.
Jamie Gay and Mallory Johnsen combined to win at No. 1 doubles, while Amber Engler and Daleigh Fossler won in the No. 2 slot.
Gay and Johnsen are undefeated at No. 1 doubles, while Engler and Fossler are undefeated playing at No. 2 doubles.
Beatrice is scheduled to host Wilber-Clatonia Friday in its final regular-season dual.
The dual will be the final home performance for seniors Gay, Johnsen and Daubendiek.
Gay, Cook said, will be going for her 100th career singles victory Friday.