ROCHELLE — Seniors Abby Metzger and Lauren Dyer scored a decisive doubles victory to lead the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity tennis team during Thursday’s match against Princeton.

Metzger and Dyer took the court for the No. 2 matchup, earning a hard-fought first set before rolling in the second set to beat Princeton’s Anna Ellis and Paige Jesse 7-5, 6-1. The doubles win highlighted a 4-1 nonconference loss for the Lady Hubs (4-12, 1-4 Interstate 8), who played their final regular season match on Thursday. Rochelle will host the Interstate 8 Conference tournament on Saturday before holding the IHSA 1A Sectional next Friday and Saturday.

Princeton took the early lead after Emilee Merkel took down senior Yaretzi Villalobos 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 1 singles court. The Tigers extended their lead at the No. 3 doubles court, where Ella Kinsmor and Tess Carlson won 6-2, 6-0 over seniors Sydney Carmichael and Natalie Wagner.

Princeton clinched the match victory after a thrilling three-set match at the No. 1 doubles court, where seniors Catherine Williams and Erin Murphy gained the first-set lead over Fiona Wesley and Nora Schneider. The Tiger netters rallied to claim the second set before outlasting the Lady Hub duo in the third-set tiebreaker to emerge with a 3-6, 7-5 10-8 victory and seal the team win.

Varsity action concluded at the No. 2 singles court, where junior Merit Namaste-Rose fought back from a first-set deficit to take the second set against Audrey Thompson. The Princeton netter Thompson cruised in the third-set tiebreaker to edge Namaste-Rose 7-5, 3-6, 10-2.