MINNEAPOLIS — Brainerd’s state tournament run ended a day earlier than hoped.
The Warriors’ No. 1 doubles team of Claire Erdal-Ericah Folden opened with a 6-3, 7-5 loss to Anna Beaudette-Julia Lindseth of Rock Ridge in the opening round of the Class 2A
State doubles tournament Thursday, Oct. 26
, at Baseline Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
That dropped Brainerd into the consolation bracket where they faced No. 3 seeded Zoya Hasan-Lauryn Schenck of Edina. The Edina duo was upset by a Lakeview North team, which then defeated the Rock Ridge team 6-0, 6-1.
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Erdal-Folden were then
eliminated 6-1, 6-1 to end their season.
Brainerd’s Lila Collins opened against a somewhat familiar opponent in the Class 2A singles bracket. The Warriors senior faced Aoife Loftus of Rochester Mayo.
On Tuesday, Oct, 24
, Collins faced Claire Loftus of Rochester Mayo in the Class 2A Team Quarterfinals.
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Collins’ match ended in a similar fashion as she fell to the No. 5 seeded Aoife Loftus 6-0, 6-0 in the opening round.
The loss dropped Collins into the consolation bracket where she faced Forest Lake’s Lucy Saari.
Collins’ season ended
with a 6-2, 6-4 loss.
“Our tennis season finished on the biggest stage for Minnesota girls’ tennis, at the state tournament,” Warriors head coach Lisa Salo said. “Being here competing at such a high-level caps off an incredible season. Our coaching staff is so proud of what we accomplished this season. Our journey here was one that we will never forget. We made history in our program, made life-long memories and competed in a classy, Warrior Tennis way.
“Our senior leadership led us to this opportunity and for all of them to finish their high school careers here at the state tournament is a remarkable accomplishment. We thank our parents, families, fans, school, community and all of the great media coverage for supporting us throughout this entire season. Our returning players want more and this experience will help them set goals and continue to believe in the powerful tradition and history of Warrior girls’ tennis.”
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Staples-Motley’s Lauren Rutten and Ronnie Noska opened their Class 1A state doubles bracket with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson Boyd’s Hannah Oie and Kayla Jahn.
That sent the
Cardinals couple
into the championship quarterfinals where they ran into an upset-minded duo from Rochester Lourdes.
“I guess we never go into a match with too much concern,” S-M head coach Justin Edin said. “We just wanted to control what we can control. We tried to have the girls going in loose and having fun.”
The pair of Erin Witter-Taylor Elliott knocked off No. 5 seeded Malia Mikysha-Brenna Youngbauer of Pine City 6-1, 6-1.
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Against the No. 4 seeded
Rutten-Noska
, the Lourdes pair couldn’t advance further as the S-M team eliminated them 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.
“In that first set, they were just playing really loose and playing their game,” Edin said. “They were just being patient and aggressive with it. The third set was just another great mind shift. They got a little tight in the second set. They regrouped and talked going into the third set. They knew what they needed to do and were aggressive again. They went out and played their game.”
Noska-Rutten advanced to the championship semifinals 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27. They will face the No. 1 seeded team of Fetemeh Vang-Nana Vang from Blake. The Vang pair opened with a 6-0, 6-2 win and then defeated Ally Mersman-Macy Sohre of Maple River 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
“We’re going to get some rest and hopefully go in feeling as loose and prepared as possible,” Edin said. “They’re really great. I got to watch them some today. They move well and communicate well so it will be really fun tennis to watch (Friday).”