Alexandria girls' tennis: Cardinals can't topple CLC leader
Alexandria fell in a close match to St. Cloud Tech 4-3.By: Lori Mork, Alexandria Echo Press
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Twice the Cardinal girls’ tennis team has faced St. Cloud Tech and twice the result has been the same – a 4-3 loss to the Central Lakes Conference leading Tigers.
“We know we can compete with good teams like the Tigers,” said head coach Dave Ronning. “It’s just going to have to take an entire team effort.
“The fourth point is hard to come by when you are playing a team as good as Tech,” he added. “They are solid all the way through their lineup.
“The closest match came from Carly Snell at third singles, where it looked like she was going to come through when she took the lead in the second set 4-3, but her opponent battled it out and won the last three games, and got the fourth point for the Tigers.”
The loss was the second of the season for the Cards, but still left them in second place with a 7-2 record, one match ahead of Brainerd as the Warriors fell to Willmar 4-3 Tuesday.
Rebecca Lukes and Ellie Bergstrand picked up wins at first and second singles, respectively, while Kim Wilkin and Miranda Sater won at third doubles.
“Rebecca played what was most likely the best match of her high school career at first singles,” said Ronning. “She started out down in the first set 1-4 before she rattled off five straight games to take the set 6-4.
“She never could get anything going in the second set, so we decided to conserve energy and focus on the third set. Rebecca played determined and won the third 6-4.”
Bergstrand earned a straight set victory 6-4, 6-4 at second singles.
“Ellie started both sets well, and, although her opponent fought back to make it interesting, she kept the girl off balance by changing her strategy from time to time and won in good fashion,” said her coach. “Both Rebecca and Ellie brought their games to new heights tonight by continually staying on top of what the opponent was trying to do and then finding an answer to counter.”
At third doubles, Sater and Wilkin won in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
“Miranda and Kim stayed unbeaten on the season with an easy two-set win at third doubles,” said Ronning. “Kim and Miranda were aggressive and played offensive tennis the entire match.”
Alexandria fell to 7-2 in conference play and 14-2 overall. They played at Brainerd last night, Thursday, and will be at the Detroit Lakes triangular on Saturday before hosting St. Cloud Apollo/Sauk Rapids-Rice on Tuesday.
ST. CLOUD TECH 4, ALEXANDRIA 3
SINGLES
No. 1 – Rebecca Lukes, Alex, def. Taylor Tarrolly 6-4, 0-6, 6-4, No. 2 – Ellie Bergstrand, Alex, def. Katelyn Tarrolly 6-4, 6-4, No. 3 – Leah Worm, Tech, def. Carly Snell 6-3, 6-4, No. 4 – Katie Williams, Tech, def. Bria Schueler 6-1, 6-1.
DOUBLES
No. 1 – Lexi Portz-Jill Kedrowoski, Tech, def. Jessica Larson-Jenna Hedstrom 6-2, 6-1, No. 2 – Sam Eisenriech-Sabriana Storm, Tech, def. Rachel Sjostrand-Marissa Wheeler 6-3,6 -2, No. 2 – Kim Wilkins-Miranda Sater, Alex, def. Kaila Burroughts-Sarah Donnelly 6-1, 6-2.
Lori Mork
Lori Mork is the Sports Editor for the Echo Press, taking over that position in 2007 after serving as Assistant Sports Editor since 1996. Mork spent the previous 18 years working at the Pope County Tribune in Glenwood where she served as the Sports Editor as well as a graphic designer and member of the production department. She spends her free time with her husband, Bob, and their pets, enjoying rural life on Lake Reno. Follow Sports Editor Lori Mork on Twitter at @morkwriter.Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinals, girls, tennis
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