While rain and a lightning sighting didn’t allow the meet to finish its No. 3 doubles matchup, the Eagles controlled much of the meet and picked up a 5-1 Big South Conference victory in the process.

The No. 3 doubles match, which saw New Ulm’s Brielle Evans and Lilly Rieger take on Claire Schultz and Isabella Poe, was also led by New Ulm before it ended with Brielle Evans and Rieger with a narrow lead 7-5, 4-4.

Both of the Eagles’ other two doubles teams never had a doubt, however, as they both won in two sets. At No. 2 doubles, Lydia Osborne and Maggie Joyce defeated Lisbeth Soto and Paw Soe 6-1, 6-1, while New Ulm’s senior pairing of Kaylee Evans and Everly Batt earned their first win as a doubles team at No. 1 doubles, defeating Ashley Esparza and Maria Shwe.

For the senior doubles team, their first win could easily just be a sign of things to come.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm’s Everly Batt follows a slow lob during a No. 1 doubles match with Worthington on Tuesday at New Ulm High School.

“It feels like a confidence booster for the rest of the season,” Kaylee Evans said. “You just feel good going into the next matches this week and a bunch next week, too.”

While the two have won matches apart, Batt said it was nice to get their first win as a team.

“We’ve won a couple not together, so it’s nice to be together again,” Batt said.

Batt and Kaylee Evans had a distinct height and reach advantage on their opponents also, which the two used to their advantage.

“Definitely at the net we benefited,” Batt said. “Especially because some of the other teams we play, we’re not [the taller team].”

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm’s Kaylee Evans returns the ball during a No. 1 doubles match with Worthington on Tuesday at New Ulm High School.

Kaylee Evans and Batt both said the success they had was mostly due to communication, but their lobs also played a big role.

“I think working on our lobs was really good,” Kaylee Evans said. “Reading the court, that’s what [coach Engeldinger] says. That’s why we won.”

New Ulm’s singles players also were in control for the most part, led by No. 1 singles player Carmen Schotzko and No. 3 singles player Lilly Kral. Schotzko won her match 6-1, 6-2 over Lily Brown, while Kral defeated Madison Poe 6-1, 6-2.

Natalie Fischer won also for New Ulm at No. 2 singles, but it took her a little longer to do so as she had to fend off a comeback to defeat Kah Blu Moo in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Avah Kruse played hard for the Eagles in the fourth doubles spot but fell short thanks to a comeback by Emma Hietbrink. Hietbrink got the Trojans’ lone win 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.

The Eagles, now 2-7, are at Marshall for more Big South action on Thursday.