Cardinal tennis team ends season at section

• Ben LeVahn

Echo Press photo by Eric Morken Alexandria’s Ben LeVahn lost his fourth singles match during the Cardinals’ contest with Elk River in the Section 8AA team tennis tournament. The Cards fell 5-2, ending their season.

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The Alexandria tennis team saw its season come to an end against the eventual Section 8AA champions in a 5-2 loss to Elk River on Tuesday.

The Cardinals had beaten the Elks earlier this year in a tight 4-3 match. Elk River countered by moving players around in its lineup this time around.

The Elks moved their second singles player over to first doubles in hopes of strengthening their doubles lineup. The strategy worked as they went on to take the first doubles match in straight sets.

Elk River also overcame a first-set loss at No. 2 doubles to pick up the win. Three wins in the singles lineup secured the win for the Elks, who advanced to beat Brainerd later in the day for a trip to the state tournament.

“They played well,” head coach Dave Ronning said. “We struggled at several spots and in a match like this, with the talent they have, we would have to play some of our best tennis, and it did not happen.”

Connor Illies picked up the one win for Alexandria in the singles lineup with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Mitchel Brendell. Cody Nelson and Thomas Williams got the lone win in the doubles lineup with a straight-set victory over Dylan Berger and Landon Werner.

The Cardinals wrapped up their season with an 18-5 record. It was another strong season for a program that continues to show consistency with its fifth straight trip to the section tournament.

“We can’t hang our heads,” Ronning said. “We had another great season, and we have a lot to be proud of. A lot of good things happened, and I do believe the guys had a lot of fun.”

SECTION 8AA TOURNAMENT

Elk River 5, Alexandria 2

SINGLES – No. 1 – Brendon O’Connell (ER) def. Reggie Ronning, 6-3, 6-2; No. 2 – Connor Illies (A) def. Mitchel Brendell, 7-5, 6-1; No. 3 – Robert Johnson (ER) def. Luke Eberly, 6-2, 6-4; No. 4 – Ryan Ness (ER) def. Ben LeVahn, 6-1, 6-4

DOUBLES – Zac Carter/Keagen Blancke (ER) def. Jacob Otterness/Marvin Wensman, 6-1, 7-5; No. 2 – Lucas Werner/Travis Blanken (ER) def. Kevin Desautels/Matt Peterson, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0; No. 3 – Cody Nelson/Thomas Williams (A) def. Dylan Berger/Landon Werner, 6-4, 6-0

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, boys, tennis, section, 8aa