It was a close one, but in the end, the USC Rebels suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Le Sueur-Henderson when they invited the Giants to a home match on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Giant Chloe Brandt towered, so to speak, over Rebel Kelsie Chapman at No. 1 singles. Brandt took the match quickly in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1.

The tables turned at No. 2 singles, however, when USC’s Brylee Nuebauer booked a 6-0, 6-4 win for the Rebels against Le Sueur Hendersen’s Lauren Krause.

No. 3 singles brought another Rebel victory. Lauren Hansen won the match, 6-1, 6-3, for USC against Giant Harriet Tuck.

The Giants fought back at No. 4 singles to secure another win for Le Sueur-Henderson. Maggie Froelich defeated Rebel Maya Hansen in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.

It was Le Sueur-Henderson’s Isabella Holloway and Ella Nesbit up against USC’s Addison Mithun and Olivia Bungum at No. 1 doubles, where the Rebels suffered another defeat, 6-1, 6-1.

No. 2 doubles, meanwhile, brought USC better luck. Rebels Ivy O’Rourke and Juliana Clore eventually defeated Giants Koreyann Straub and Carlin Straub in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Giants Alice Breaker and Teagan Graham swiped a final victory for Le Sueur-Henderson at No. 3 doubles, where they beat Rebels Emma Johnson and Caitlin Rheingans 6-2, 6-0.

Belle Plaine 6, USC 1

The Belle Plaine Tigers proved fierce opponents for the USC Rebels when the two teams battled at United South Central Public School on Thursday, Sept. 8.

The Tigers showed no mercy in taking home a 6-1 victory over the Rebels.

At No. 1 singles, it was USC’s Chapman up against Belle Plaine’s Courtney Eppen. Chapman suffered a 6-2, 6-2 defeat to Eppen.

Rebel Nuebauer, however, bagged USC’s sole win when she played Tiger Lydia Sparby at No. 2 singles. Nuebauer easily beat her opponent in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.

Fortune favored the Tigers once again at No. 3 singles when USC’s Lauren Hansen was defeated by Belle Plaine’s Kayla Streich 6-1, 6-4.

Rebel Maya Hansen put up a fight at No. 4 singles, meanwhile, but was ultimately defeated by Tiger Olivia Walter, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

At No. 1 doubles, Belle Plaine’s Joelea Koepp and Josie Schmidt secured another win for the Tigers against USC’s Mithun and Bungum, 6-3, 6-2.

Rebels Clore and O’Rourke also struggled against Tigers Sienna Bemmels and Sophia Kruschke at No. 2 doubles. Belle Plaine took the match 6-1, 6-4.

No. 3 doubles brought a final victory for Belle Plaine when Tigers Claire Olson and Kamryn Stier faced Rebels Johnson and Rheingans. The match went to Belle Plaine in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0.

The Rebels were back on the court against Sibley East on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Next week, they face Maple River at home on Tuesday, Sept. 20, and travel to play Tri-City United on Thursday, Sept. 22.

See the results in next week’s edition of the Faribault County Register.