The No. 1 singles final of the Westside Invitational on Friday at Koch Family Tennis Center was starting to look like a classic in the making.

Omaha Marian’s Brooke Urzendowski began the match in her usual dominant form, crushing forehand winners past Lincoln Southwest’s Anna Bogdanov en route to a 6-1 win in the opening set. But in a tense second set, Bogdanov took a 4-1 lead and had the tournament’s top seed and two-time defending state champion on the ropes.

Urzendowski then shifted to overdrive.

The junior won the last five games of the match to prevail 6-1, 6-4 and steer the Crusaders to the team title.

“I just decided, since she was playing better, that I needed to get the ball in more and not go for so much,” Urzendowski said. “So I just got a little more consistent, and that’s what turned it around.”

The Crusaders finished with 90 team points, beating out tournament host Omaha Westside (73), Bogdanov and the Silver Hawks (57.5) and 12 other Class A teams.

“We just wanted to come out and try to play the most consistent tennis we’ve played all year, just try to build on that for the rest of the season and just kind of size up our opponents out there,” Marian coach Beth Dye said.

It was hardly a walkover for the two-time defending state champions.

At No. 2 singles, top seed Jessie Koraleski of Marian fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to Millard West freshman Emma Schelble. Third-seeded Schelble also beat Koraleski in U.S. Tennis Association play earlier this year, and their friendly rivalry — marked by playful shoving and laughing at the net after the match — has taken center stage in what appears to be a wide-open field.

“Jessie and I are really good friends, but obviously we want to beat each other out on the court,” Schelble said. “I think if Jessie and I play each other again, it’s going to be close again.”

And while Marian’s Caroline Nelsen and Hylan Miller were able to claw their way to a 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-3 win over Westside’s Paige Menolascino and Dylan Harlow at No. 2 doubles, the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles were each won by the Warriors.

“I think it’s still wide open this year,” Dye said. “It’s anyone’s game any day. That’s just the way tennis is.”

As for Urzendowski, a similar showing at next month’s state championship would make her just the fourth player in the history of Nebraska high school girls tennis to be crowned state champion at No. 1 singles three years in a row.

“I don’t like to think too far ahead. I just have to focus on each match and play my best,” she said. “But I know as long as I’m focused and I’m playing my best, the rest will take care of itself.”

Team scoring: Om. Marian 90, Om. Westside 73, Lincoln Southwest 57.5, Millard West 40, Millard North 37.5, Elkhorn 33, Omaha Central 22, Kearney 22, Lincoln Southeast 22, Grand Island 18, Lincoln East 13.5, Papillion-La Vista 11.5, Papillion-La Vista South 8, Omaha Burke 6, Bellevue East 1.

Championship round: No. 1 singles — Brooke Urzendowski, OM, def. Anna Bogdanov, LSW, 6-1, 6-4. No. 2 singles — Emma Schelble, MW, def. Jessie Koraleski, OM, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. No. 1 doubles — Breanna Keller/Lauren Keller, OW, def. Kara Schuele/Katherine Nelsen, OM, 6-3, 6-4. No. 2 doubles — Caroline Nelsen/Hylan Miller, OM, def. Paige Menolascino/Dylan Harlow, OW, 7-6(7-1), 4-6, 6-3. No. 3 doubles — Kate Kutilek/Taylor Menolascino, OW, def. Gina Beller/Kaitlin Barnard, OM, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0.

Contact the writer:

444-1201, sports@owh.com

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