The Minnewaska Area girls tennis team ran into two of the strongest teams in the state during the Litchfield triangular last Wednesday.

The Lakers fell to 0-4 overall for the season with a pair of 7-0 losses to Virginia (Rock Ridge) and the host Dragons.

“It’s a good test for our team to play such good teams early in the season,” coach Tara Reichmann said.  “It will only make our team better in future.”

The Lakers have a young starting lineup this year with a top-12 that includes three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and three ninth-graders.

Coming up this week is  the Brainerd Invitational, Monday, Aug. 29 followed by a meet at Benson-KMS, Tuesday, and the home opener, Thursday, against Morris Area/WCA.

Through the early part of the schedule, Avarie Uhde leads the Lakers with a 4-3 record, while Grace Jensen is 3-2, and Jayda Kolstoe and Katy Vold are both 3-4.

•  Minnewaska Area won last year’s WCC title with an 8-0 league record, followed by Morris Area-WCA (7-1), Montevideo (6-2), LQP-DB (5-3), Benson-KMS (4-4), Melrose Area (3-5), MACCRAY (2-6), Sauk Centre (1-7) and YME (0-8).

This year’s Minnewaska Area girls tennis team, coached by Tara Reichmann, Chad Quelle and Carter LaMont, are seniors Olivia Bleick, Zoey Elwood and Grace Jensen; junior Brianna Erickson; sophomores Sydney Dahl, Katie Sorenson, Megan Thorfinnson, Avarie Uhde and Kathryn Vold; and ninth-graders Olivia Danielson, Jayda Kolstoe, Alia Randt, Addison Heid and Hannah Walsh.

“We lost a lot of key players and this will be rebuilding year, but I look forward to a fun season with a very youthful group of girls,” coach Reichmann said.

at Litchfield triangular

The Lakers fell twice at the Litchfield triangular, Wednesday, losing both matches by 7-0 scores.

Against Litchfield, Alia Randt came close to earning a point for the Lakers before falling in three sets, 5-7, 6-1, 10-7 tiebreaker.

In the other matches, Brianna Erickson won four games during a 6-3, 6-1 loss at fourth singles, and Livi Danielson and Zoey Elwood earned four games during a 6-0, 6-4 loss at second doubles.

•  During the second match against a very strong Virginia team, the Lakers did not win any sets, but did win four games in three matches. Livi Danielson fell 6-1, 6-3 at second singles, Sydney Dahl and Megan Thorfinnson lost 6-3, 6-1 at first doubles and Zoey Elwood and Avarie Uhde fell 6-3, 6-1 at second doubles.

at Litchfield 7, Minnewaska Area 0

SINGLES results: 

(1) Ryanna Steinhaus, Litch def Alia Randt 5-7, 6-1, 10-7tb  (2) Karlee Prahl, Litch def Megan Thorfinnson 6-3, 6-0  (3) Isla Dille, Litch def Avarie Uhde 6-0, 6-2  (4) Kaitlyn Palmer, Litch def Brianna Erickson 6-3, 6-1

DOUBLES results:  

(1)  Lauren Erickson-Olivia Olson, Litch def Sydney Dahl-Olivia Bleick 6-3, 6-0  (2) Trinity Haes-Sophie Stillwell, Litch def Livi Danielson-Zoey Elwood 6-0, 6-4  (3) Anna Hilwell-Amelia Benson, Litch def Jayda Kolstoe-Katy Vold 6-1, 6-0

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Virginia 7, Minnewaska 0

SINGLES results: 

(1) Lydia Delich, Vir def Alia Randt 6-0, 6-1  (2) Aili Fink, Vir def Livi Danielson 6-1, 6-3  (3) Mayme Scott, Vir def Brianna Erickson 6-1, 6-0  (4) Ava Seppala, Vir def Katie Sorenson 6-1, 6-0

DOUBLES results:  

(1)  Anna Baudette-Julia Lindseth, Vir def Sydney Dahl-Megan Thorfinnson 6-3, 6-1  (2) Paige Maki-Aya Twutwine, Vir def Zoey Elwood-Avarie Uhde 6-3, 6-1  (3) Theresa Anderson-Sydney Spelts, Vir def Jayda Kolstoe-Katy Vold 6-1, 6-0