×

B.E. Area tennis to play for state consolation crown

MINNEAPOLIS — Blue Earth Area Bucs head girls tennis coach Konny Wolff says her team has done a good job all season of staying focused.

That ability was on display on Tuesday at the Class A state tournament at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center. After losing to No. 2-ranked Rochester Lourdes in the first round, the Bucs regrouped to defeat New London-Spicer in the consolation semifinals.

The No. 6-ranked Bucs (21-2) will play Minnewaska Area at noon today back at the indoor Minneapolis-based facility for the consolation championship.

“At the section meet, after winning our semifinal match,” Wolff said, “We had three hours before we played St. James (Area) for the championship. Today we had about four hours between matches. The kids did a good job.”

In the 6-1 loss to Rochester Lourdes, the Bucs got swept in singles and lost two of three doubles matches. In their 5-2 victory over New London-Spicer, the Bucs won three of four singles matches and two of three doubles matches.

“Our singles players rebounded well against New London,” said Wolff. “Te’a (Armstrong) played well and Arika (Howard) played well, especially after a tough first match (against Lourdes).”

In addition to Armstrong’s 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 1 singles and Howard’s 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles in the victory over New London-Spicer, the Bucs got a boost from two doubles teams.

At No. 1 doubles, McKenna Dutton and Britt Howard earned their second victory of the day with a 6-4, 6-1 victory. At No. 3 doubles, sophomore Kylie Rosenau and eighth-grader Addison Armstrong teamed for a 6-3, 6-4 victory to rebound from a loss in the first round.

“They (Kylie and Addison) were relaxed, but kind of nervous,” said Wolff. “They really wanted to win to help the team. And they kept their focus.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Rochester Lourdes, which is making its 24th consecutive appearance in the state tournament, showed why it is ranked No. 2 in Class A.

At No. 1 singles, senior Clare Palen, who has been the Eagles’ No. 1 singles player since seventh grade and is ranked No. 2 in the Class 1A singles poll, defeated Te’a Armstrong, 6-0, 6-2.

Jane Spalding defeated Macie Stevermer at No. 2 singles and Caroline Daly defeated Marissa Benz at No. 4 singles. Against New London-Spicer, Benz earned a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory.

At No. 3 singles, the Eagles Ryann Winter defeated Arika Howard, 6-1, 6-2. It was Howard’s first loss of the season.

The Bucs’ lone point came from Britt Howard and Dutton, who outlasted the Eagles’ Sydney Elliott and Elyse Palen, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 10-8.

The Eagles’ Karin Hayford and Melissa Stocker defeated Lyndsey Borris and Cali Beyer at No. 2 doubles and at No. 3 doubles, the Eagles’ Hannah Roth and Annabel Boughey rallied to defeat the Addison Armstrong and Rosenau, 7-5, 6-3. Roth and Boughey trailed 5-2 in the first set.

On Thursday in the individual tournament, Te’a Armstrong and Arika Howard will face Khloe Lund and Isabela Nelson of Thief River Falls in the 10 a.m. first round of the doubles tournament.

Fairmont sophomore Claire Nemmers will face Clare Palen in an 8 a.m. state singles first-round match Thursday. Palen teamed with Natalie Allison to win the doubles championship at the last two Class A state tournaments.

Class 1A Team Quarterfinals

Rochester Lourdes 6,

Blue Earth Area 1

Singles: Clare Palen, RL, def. Te’a Armstrong, 6-0, 6-2; Jane Spalding, RL, def. Macie Stevermer, 6-2, 6-1; Ryann Witter, RL, def. Arika Howard, 6-1, 6-2; Caroline Daly, RL def. Marissa Benz, 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles: Britt Howard/McKenna Dutton, BEA, def. Sydney Elliott/Elyse Palen, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 10-8; Karin Hayford/Melissa Stocker, RL, def. Lyndsey Borris/Cali Beyer, 6-3, 6-1; Hannah Roth/Annabel Boughey, RL, def. Addison Armstrong/Kylie Rosenau, 7-5, 6-3.

Consolation semifinals

BEA 5, New London-Spicer 2

Singles: Te’a Armstrong, BEA, def. Ava Hanson, 6-4, 6-3; Izzy Schmiesing, NLS, def. Macie Stevemer, 6-4, 6-2; Arika Howard, BEA, def. Kamryn Quenemoen, 6-3, 6-0; Marissa Benz, BEA, def. Mya Mayhew, 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Doubles McKenna Dutton/Britt Howard, BEA, def. Ruby Parson/Morgan Rolighed, 6-4, 6-1; Megan Warner-Ashley Templer, NLS, def. Cali Beyer/Lyndsey Borris, 6-4, 7-6 (6); Addison Armstrong/Kylie Rosenau, BEA, def. Taylor Barber/Shannon Monson, 6-3, 6-4.

Tuesday’s Results — Quarterfinals

Blake 7, Thief River Falls 0

Litchfield 6, Minnewaska Area 1

Pequot Lakes 6, New London-Spicer 1

Rochester Lourdes 6, Blue Earth Area 1

Consolation semifinals

Blue Earth Area 5, New London-Spicer 2

Minnewaska Area 4, Thief River Falls 3

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.65/week.

Subscribe Today