UPDATED w/ scores: Red Oak tennis moves on to Regional Final

RED OAK — The Red Oak Tigers girls’ tennis team defeated the Atlantic Trojanns on Saturday to advance to the Regional Team final.
Red Oak won the match , 5-1.

“They came to play. This was a good team, a senior-laden team, very experienced team,” Red Oak tennis coach Dan Martinez said. “They’re not intimidated by us like they use to. We need to work on that again.”

Paige Vannausdle clinched the match for Red Oak, defeating Sarah Schreiner 6-2 and 6-3.

Vannausdle trailed 3-0 to start the second set.

After an exchange, Vannausdle came out and won six straight games to win the match and put Red Oak in the Regional Final.

“I told her that girl’s raised her game and you’re going to have to raise yours,” Martinez said. “I thought Paige raised her game.”

Emily Pierson defeated Liz Metheny 6-1 and 6-1, while Rachel Pierson defeated Shelby Svoboda 6-0 and 6-0.

Brittany Walker defeated Carli Thornton 6-1 and 6-2.

Zoey Baker had the lone loss for Red Oak in the match against Atlantic. Baker lost to Morgan Allen 6-5, 2-6 and 0-1 (2).

Red Oak defeated Creston to start the morning, 5-0.

The Regionals were delayed an hour, due to the courts being wet. All the matches were played outside, despite the cold, cloudy day.

The regional tournament will determine who goes to state, individually.

Red Oak will face Clarinda on Saturday in the Regional Final. The match will start at 9 a.m. in Red Oak.