The Alexandria boys tennis team has proven through nine matches now that this group can win in multiple ways.

The Cardinals have dominated some of their opponents in 7-0 finals, but they have found ways to win close matches as well against good teams like Monticello, Bemidji and St. Cloud Tech. Add Brainerd to that list now after Alexandria won a 5-2 match on Thursday night to move to 9-0. The Warriors had just beaten St. Cloud Tech in a 4-3 final, but the Cardinals, even shorthanded without senior Andrew Wegner and with Landon Schabel coming off of an ankle injury, were too strong throughout the lineup.

“(We) started slow at several spots, but once we got going we played some of our best tennis of the season,” head coach Dave Ronning said. “Jacob Partington set the tone at first singles as he started strong and cruised to a win in straight sets. Not far behind him was Landon at third singles where he showed no signs of any injury as he also won in straight sets.”

The third doubles team of Brennan Lattimer and Cole Haabala lost the first set 6-1 but won 12 of the next 14 games to secure a third team point. Gannon Lueck did the same at second singles by bouncing back from a 6-0 loss in the first to win the next two, 6-2, 6-4.

Pieter Mulder and Owen Gilbertson lost a first-set tiebreaker before winning the next two sets at first doubles. Dylan Nelson and Tyler Jabas lost a three-setter at second doubles, and Aaron Jost also fell in a tight match at fourth singles in three sets.

“It was a great way to end the long week of traveling and it was very gratifying for the guys for all the hard work they put in to get to this point,” Ronning said. “Us coaches could not be happier for this group, and we hope to get Andrew back next week, which will only help the depth of the team.”

The Cardinals try to improve to 10-0 on Friday at 4:30 p.m. when they host St. Cloud Apollo/Sauk Rapids-Rice at AAHS.

Osakis plays shorthanded

Minnesota State High School League teams are still very much playing in the midst of a pandemic right now, and some teams around the state are having to play shorthanded due to those circumstances.

Osakis is one of those as the Silverstreaks, who already have few numbers in their first season back since the 1990s, had to forfeit their second doubles match in a 5-1 loss to MACCRAY on Thursday. Neither program fielded a third doubles team.

“The guys played hard today but they were forced to play up in the lineup due to us being without some players having to quarantine due to contact tracing at our school,” Osakis head coach Ryan Maddock said. “We are hopeful to get back to full strength soon and continue on with our season. Logan Grove had a great effort in winning his match at No. 1 singles.”

Grove won 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in his first-ever match at the top spot of the lineup.

MACCRAY 5, OSAKIS 1

SINGLES - No. 1 - Logan Grove (O) def. Gabe Sparks, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3; No. 2 - Carter Tomes (M) def. Jacob Uhl, 6-3, 6-3; No. 3 - Daniel Seehusen (M) def. Bryce Moen, 6-4, 6-0; No. 4 - Austin Sweep (M) def. Jacob Taplin, 7-5, 6-4

DOUBLES - Andrew Janssen/Brogan Harguth (M) def. Micah Moore/Tyler Stier, 6-3, 6-1; No. 2 - MACCRAY won by forfeit

Minnewaska splits

Minnewaska split two matches with a 6-1 loss to Foley and a 5-2 win over St. Cloud Cathedral.

Junior Tate Reichmann continued to shine at first singles for the Lakers as he stayed unbeaten with two more straight-set victories. Damon Uhde and Ethan Quelle added singles wins against St. Cloud. Connor Quelle and Noah Palmer won at second doubles, and Tenzin Dahl and Hunter Rood completed the team win with a two-set victory at third doubles.

FOLEY 6, MINNEWASKA 1

SINGLES - No. 1 - Tate Reichmann (M) def. Tanner Funk, 6-3, 6-1; No. 2 - Tanner Jumper (F) def. Damon Uhde, 6-1, 6-1; No. 3 - Peyton Baron (F) def. Ethan Quelle, 3-6, 6-2, (10-3); No. 4 - Coleton Rawfork (F) def. Riley Thorfinnson, 6-1, 6-0

DOUBLES - No. 1 - Riley Eurkens/Carter Thell (F) def. Logan Maanum/Konner Hanson, 6-0, 6-2; No. 2 - Wyatt Harris/Owen Bartell (F) def. Connor Quelle/Noah Palmer, 6-4, 6-0; No. 3 - Ben Hutchens/Anthony (F) def. Tenzin Dahl/Hunter Rood, 7-5, 6-2

MINNEWASKA 5, ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL 2

SINGLES - No. 1 - Reichmann (M) def. Grant Martin, 6-2, 6-0; No. 2 - D. Uhde (M) def. Jonah Prom, 3-6, 6-4, (10-7); No. 3 - E. Quelle (M) def. Jacob Manar, 6-0, 6-2; No. 4 - Elliot Anderson (SC) def. Riley Thorfinnson, 6-1, 6-2

DOUBLES - No. 1 - George Vedder/Matt Gohman (SC) def. Maanum/Hanson, 6-3, 4-6, (10-6); No. 2 - C. Quelle/Palmer (M) def. Han Kwon/Kai Martinson, 6-0, 6-1; No. 3 - Dahl/Rood (M) def. William Reisinger/Eli Burnham, 6-0, 6-1