ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- The Pirates split four matches in a busy week ended Sept. 10

Rocky River (4-9, 4-3 Great Lakes Conference) dropped a hard-fought non-conference match against St. Joseph on Tuesday. Junior Anna Kunde defeated the Jaguars' Mary Lepore, 6-1, 6-0, in third singles to capture her third straight victory on the season. River also earned a point in first doubles, with Hannah Burgess and Gigi Konrad earning a two-tie-break triumph.

The Pirates swept a 5-0 GLC win on Wednesday when they downed the Elyria Catholic Panthers. Alice Situ, Anna Kunde, and Sydney Hocking clocked singles wins for the Double-R.

On Thursday, Rocky River dropped a 4-1 non-league match against Avon. Samantha Robertson earned River's lone point with a sharp win against the Eagles' Denver Johnson (6-4, 6-2). The Pirate losses in second singles and second doubles were in tight affairs.

Head coach Eric Hillstrom pegged Robertson's Thursday win as being a key in postseason seeding. "Sam really managed her nerve," Hillstrom added. "She just kept a winning and determined mind throughout the match."

The Buccaneers closed out their four matches in four days with a 5-0 circuit win over Fairview. Rocky River swept all three singles matches in 6-0, 6-0 fashion. In doubles play, it was "Al" hands on deck, with Alison Ryland paired with Allie Helms in a 7-6 (8), 6-2 victory. Gigi Konrad and Scout Hahn prevailed, 6-3, 6-2.


by Skip Snow

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