STATE TENNIS: LHS out in 1st round of state

MINNEAPOLIS — Luverne’s boys’ tennis season came to an end Tuesday, as the Cardinals fell 7-0 and 6-1 in the first round of championship and consolation play, respectively, in the Class A state tournament at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis.

Luverne (18-4) could manage just one set win at singles versus Rochester Lourdes in the championship round. Joey Vajgrt fell to Robert Turlington at No. 1 singles, Dustin Deutsch fell to Brian Utz at No. 2 singles and Andrew Jelkin fell to Alan Schembri-Wismayer at No. 4 singles 6-0, 6-0 each for Luverne. Jonny Vajgrt fell 6-0, 6-1 to Kyle McGrane at No. 3 singles.

At doubles, Blake Ziegler and Scott Nelson lost to David Turlington and Hadi Berbari 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles, Ethan Johnson and Nathan Stensland-Bos dropped at No. 2 doubles to Nico Villarraga and Thomas Erickson 6-0, 6-2 and Matt Arends and Austin Stroeh lost at No. 3 doubles 6-1, 6-1 to Nick Herbter and Peter Erickson.

In the consolation round, the Cardinals were swept in singles’ play versus Fergus Falls, as Joey Vajgrt fell to Jake Anderson 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, Deutsch lost to Jesse Schneeberger 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, Jonny Vajgrt fell at No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-0 to David Schneck and Jelken lost a 5-7, 6-3 (7-2) battle to Jordan Schneeberger at No. 4 singles.

Arends and Stroeh picked up the sole victory for Luverne, knocking off Jason Burns and Chris Rausch 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3 doubles. Ziegler and Nelson fell at No. 1 doubles 6-1, 6-3 to Matthew Jacobson and Jacob Fisher and Johnson and Stensland-Bos dropped No. 2 doubles to Ben Ronning and Sam Vatnsdal 7-6, 6-1.

Tags: sports, prep, tennis, luverne