Both teams won three sets, but it was the third-ranked Echuca (18) that ended up winning by five games, 32-27, leaving the Rochester team sitting equal on points with it and Rich River with three rounds remaining.
Asher Lehmann was the only Rochester (5) player to walk away from the round 11 match with two set wins, combining first with Jasmine Watson and later with Taylor Murray for tie break and 6-4 set wins.
Rochester’s third set win came via Keeley Major and Jaxon Wolfe in another tie break set.
Rochester (5) shares top billing in the competition with Echuca 18 and Rich River, with the Lockington Bamawm United (7) team and the other Rochester (6) combination sitting fourth and fifth.
In the final three weeks the Rochester (5) team faces two Elmore teams, both outside the top four, before confronting its sister side in the final round of the sesaon on February 25.
— Rochester (6) dropped out of the top four when it failed to win a set against second-ranked Rich River on Saturday.
The 0-6 (13-36) defeat came in spite of Nate Mussared taking seven games from the dominant Rich River team in partnership with Ruby Connelly and Logan Sparkes.
Rochester (6) has the chance to get back into finals contention in the next two weeks when it faces two teams below it on the ladder — Echuca (16) and Echuca (17), ranked seventh and 10th respectively in the Division three competition.
— Rochester’s Division two team sits six points outside the top four after a loss on the weekend to top-of-the-ladder Elmore (6).
Four teams are all on 20 points in the Division two competition, with Rochester in sixth position on 14 points.
Rochester lost the match 1-5 (20-32)
It won only one set in the match when Cadence Major and Evie Coghill were 6-2 winners. Coghill also combined with Lexie McKenzie to take their Elmore opponents to a tie break result in another set.
In the final three weeks the club has a bye, along with games against third-ranked Elmore (4) and seventh-ranked Lockington Bamawm United (4).
11°C