The Minnewaska girls tennis team split a pair of non-conference matches against strong foes last week.  The Lakers, who are 2-3 on the season, won a 5-2 decision at Litchfield last Wednesday before falling 7-0 to Staples-Motley in a home match, Friday.

The Lakers are set to host Benson-KMS, Tuesday, Aug. 29 in what could decide the WCC title before playing at Morris Area-CA, Thursday, Aug. 31.

Early in the season, Addy Heid leads the Lakers with a 6-2 record playing at fourth singles and third doubles, while Alia Randt, Katie Sorenson and Megan Thorfinnson are all 5-3.

• Minnewaska is coming off a 9-10 season from a year ago, which also included a perfect 8-0 mark in the WCC to win its eighth-straight WCC title.  LQP-DB was second with a 7-1 record, followed by Melrose Area (6-2), Morris-WCA (4-4), MACCRAY, BKMS, and Montevideo (all 3-5), Sauk Centre (2-6) and YME (0-8).

The Lakers are coached this year again by Tara Reichmann, who is assisted by Chad Quelle.  “I see the section favorite as Osakis, since Litchfield lost some critical players this year, while New London also has some good returning players as well, so they could push Osakis,” coach Reichmann said.  “I hope for us to be up toward the top of the conference, but I think the WCC is really balanced this year as every team lost some critical players.  I’m still hoping we can contend for both the WCC and section titles.”

Reichmann is 481-269 overall for her coaching career for boys and girls tennis (341-141 for girls and 140-128 for boys).  She is in her 24th season as head coach of the Laker girls tennis team after coaching at Rochester for three year.  She has also coached the Minnewaska Area boys tennis team for 18 seasons.

Waska 5, Litchfield 2

The Lakers pulled out a 5-2 victory at Litchfield last Wednesday, thanks to three tiebreaker wins.

Minnewaska earned a split of the four singles’ matches and also swept doubles to raise its record to 2-2 early in the season.

Megan Thorfinnson earned a 6-2, 2-6, 10-1 tiebreaker win at second singles and Rachel Rankin edged her opponent 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 tiebreaker at third singles for two key points for the Lakers.

Avarie Uhde and Olivia Danielson also won a second-set tiebreaker to win at first doubles, 6-4, 7-6, while Katy Vold and Brianna Erickson won 6-3, 6-3 at second doubles, and Katie Sorenson and Addy Heidi earned a 6-3, 7-5 victory at third doubles to give Minnewaska the 5-2 victory.

Stap-Mot 7, Waska 0

The Staples-Motley Cardinals swept the Lakers in a non-conference match, Friday at home, but it didn’t come easily for the visiting team.

Rachel Rankin lost a 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 11-9 tiebreaker decision at third singles; Addy Heid fell in two close sets at fourth singles (6-4, 7-6 (7-3)); and Avarie Uhde and Olivia Danielson won the first set at first doubles before losing in three sets, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The Lakers, who fell to 2-3 overall, also lost a 6-4, 6-3 match at third doubles by Brianna Erickson and McKenna Uhde.

Staples-Motley came into the match having just won an eight-team tournament featuring some very strong teams.

at Minnewaska 5, at Litch 2

SINGLES results: 

(1) Isla Dille, Litch def Alia Randt 6-2, 6-1  (2) Megan Thorfinnson, Min def Maya Wuotila 6-1, 2-6, 10-1tb  (3) Rachel Rankin, Min def Kendra Ball 6-4, 3-6, 10-4tb  (4) Emma Wuotila, Litch def Kaylen Blair 6-3, 6-2

DOUBLES results:  

(1)  Avarie Uhde-Olivia Danielson, Min def Olivia Olson-Emma Knudsen 6-4, 7-6  (2) Katy Vold-Brianna Erickson, Min def Molly Patten-Tayah Damerow 6-3, 6-3  (3) Katie Sorenson-Addy Heid, Min def Lydia Asmus-Brynn Nagel 6-3, 7-5

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Stap-Mot 7, at Minnewaska 0

SINGLES results: 

(1) Lauren Rutten, SM def Alia Randt 6-1, 6-2   (2) Ronnie Noska, SM def Megan Thorfinnson 6-0, 6-3  (3) Jaida Hoist, SM def Rachel Rankin 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 11-9tb  (4) Kaylee Perius, SM def Addy Heid 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)

DOUBLES results:  

(1)  Amy Rollins-Corinne Olson, SM def Avarie Uhde-Olivia Danielson 1-6, 6-4, 6-2  (2) Kenzie Erickson-Heidi Zimmerman, SM def Katy Vold-Katie Sorenson 6-2, 6-0  (3) Maddison Perius-Natalie Hanson, SM def Brianna Erickson-McKenna Uhde 6-4, 6-3

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