AT THE APEX — Fairmont’s Johanna Petschke (left) stretches out to connect for a backhand winner as first doubles partner Anika Haugen looks on during a dual tennis meet with Waseca on Tuesday in Fairmont. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — An epic prep battle at second singles proved the decisive match during Tuesday’s Big South Conference tennis clash between the Fairmont Cardinals and the Waseca Bluejays.

Waseca senior CeCe Huttemier outlasted Fairmont junior Abi Peyman in a hard-hitting three-setter — 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 — filled with long rallies to swing a 4-3 team triumph to the visiting Bluejays at the Cardinal Courts.

“Abi won a couple of big matches for us last season, so she’s been in that pressure situation before,” said Fairmont head coach Laura Olsen. “I thought she showed her maturity by first, coming back from a first-set loss to win the second set, and second, she eventually won the fourth game in the third set that went to 12 deuces.

“That was a great match even though she didn’t win it. Really good tennis.”

Fairmont swept the doubles bracket, while Waseca captured Nos. 1, 3 and 4 singles before Huttemier netted the win at the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

Anika Haugen and Johanna Petschke reunited at the No. 1 position in doubles action and clicked instantly after playing apart during the past couple of dual meets.

Haugen and Petschke recorded a pivotal service break in the opening set during Game 5 to garner a 4-1 lead en route to the 6-1 victory over the Bluejays’ Mia Kanewischer and Addie Pfeifer.

Ironically, the Fairmont tandem duplicated its pattern en route to another 6-1 winning decision during the second set. Petschke pounded out powerful serves during Game 4 and Haugen deftly passed her opponents to trigger the key break en route to the 4-1 edge.

Lilly Laven and Paige Linse, aka the walking wounded, battled through minor leg contusions to serve back-to-back 6-1 set losses to Waseca opponents Madalyn Benson and Miranda Breck at second doubles.

Laven and Linse mirrored their No. 1 doubles teammates by breaking at Game 5 in both sets to pace the victory.

Emelia Klanderud and Solveig Senf produced Fairmont’s third team tally by defeating Lauren Drexler and Paige Dufault at third doubles, 6-2, 6-3.

Klanderud and Senf generated pivotal service breaks in the opening set during Game 7 for a 5-2 lead, while netting a clutch break at 4-1 in the second segment.

Waseca’s Sarah Robbins outdueled Hope Klanderud in a hard-hitting battle at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-4. While the match did not go into extended play, the rallies were long and filled with precision forehand and backhand winners.

Takya Schoenrock posted a 6-2, 6-3 win over the Cardinals’ Madi Peyman at fourth singles, while the Bluejays’ Sarah Haley netted a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Elly Stegge at the No. 3 spot in the singles bracket.

Fairmont (7-5) plays host to New Ulm at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cardinal Courts, while Waseca (9-2) plays host to Blue Earth Area on Thursday.

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Waseca 4, Fairmont 3

Singles Bracket

• Sarah Robbins (WAS) def. Hope Klanderud, 6-3, 6-4.

• CeCe Huttemier (WAS) def. Abi Peyman, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

• Sarah Haley (WAS) def. Elly Stegge, 6-3, 6-1.

• Takya Schoenrock (WAS) def. Madi Peyman, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles Bracket

• Anika Haugen-Johanna Petschke (FMT) def. Mia Kanewischer-Addie Pfeifer, 6-1, 6-1.

• Lilly Laven-Paige Linse (FMT) def. Madalyn Benson-Miranda Breck, 6-1, 6-1.

• Emelia Klanderud-Solveig Senf (FMT) def. Lauren Drexler-Paige Dufault, 6-2, 6-3.