Newton girls tennis opens season with win over Des Moines East – Newton Daily News

DES MOINES — Newton went 6-0 in singles matches and downed Des Moines East 10-1 in girls tennis action on Thursday during the Cardinals’ season opener.

Newton outscored the Scarlets 48-11 in singles matches. The doubles matches were tighter, but the Cardinals still held a 39-22 advantage.

“You could tell it was the first meet,” Newton girls tennis coach Erick Zehr said. “There were a lot of nerves to work through and just working to get comfortable out there on the court.”

Chassidy Henwood played in the No. 2 singles position and won her match 8-0. No. 1 Maggie Garrett, No. 5 Jerica Dafflitto and No. 6 Katie McConnell all won 8-1, while No. 4 Megan Lovan scored an 8-2 win and No. 3 Kya Butler edged her opponent 8-6.

In doubles, Butler and McConnell had the easiest time, winning 8-1 at No. 3 doubles. Mae Van Dam and Ella Swarts won 8-3 at No. 5 doubles.

Garrett and Lovan won their No. 1 doubles match 8-4, while Henwood and Dafflitto won 8-5 at No. 2 doubles. The only loss on the day for the Cardinals (0-1) came at No. 4 doubles where Molly Lovan and Alyssa Shannon lost 9-7.

“I was really proud of my girls for their composure, a lot of whom were playing in their first-ever tennis match,” Zehr said. “It always feels good to start the season off on the right foot.”