The Alexandria boys tennis team has visions of trying to defend its 2019 Section 8AA championship this season, and the Cardinals got a nice early-season win to jumpstart their season on Saturday.
Alexandria hosted a home triangular where it won 7-0 against Crookston and 4-3 against section-rival Monticello. Alexandria head coach Dave Ronning called the Magic an early-season section favorite.
The Cardinals swept the doubles lineup and got a third-singles win by Landon Schabel in a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 final to secure the team win. Pieter Mulder and Andrew Wegner won at first doubles. Owen Gilbertson and Dylan Nelson won at second doubles, and Ryan Meuwissen and Tyler Jabas won in straight sets at No. 3 doubles.
"It was our first time on the courts in just under two years, but the wait was worth it as we got to play on a bit of a cool, but mostly sunny day Saturday, and just being out on the courts playing a match was great for everyone," Ronning said. "A great way to kick off the new season and the guys came out with a lot of energy and excitement. Our senior leadership is really going to pay dividends this season, and it will be fun to see how they progress."
ALEXANDRIA 4, MONTICELLO 3
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SINGLES - No. 1 - Tyler Rousslang (M) def. Jacob Partington, 6-2, 6-2; No. 2 - Henry Sawatzke (M) def. Gannon Lueck, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2; No. 3 - Landon Schabel (A) def. Wyatt Kadelbach, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1; No. 4 - Monticello def. Aaron Jost, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
DOUBLES - No. 1 - Pieter Mulder/Andrew Wegner (A) def. Johnny May/Dylan Roiger, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3; No. 2 - Owen Gilbertson/Dylan Nelson (A) def. Jackson Bianchi/Brandon Fyle, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-2; No. 3 - Ryan Meuwissen/Tyler Jabas (A) def. Daniel Homsombath/N/A, 6-4, 6-3
ALEXANDRIA 7, CROOKSTON 0
SINGLES - No. 1 - Partington (A) def. Jack Garmen, 6-2, 7-6 (4); No. 2 - Lueck (A) def. Erik Coauette, 6-0, 6-1; No. 3 - Schabel (A) def. Mason Owens, 6-0, 6-2; No. 4 - Jost (A) def. N/A, 6-1, 6-1
DOUBLES - No. 1 - Mulder/Wegner (A) def. Evan Christiansen/N/A, 6-1, 6-1; No. 2 - Nelson/Gilbertson (A) def. Crookston, 6-1, 6-0; No. 3 - Meuwissen/Jabas (A) def. Crookston, 6-1, 6-1
