TROJAN GIRLS' TENNIS: Trojan girls’ tennis wins season finale

NEW ULM — The Trojan girls’ tennis team defeated the New Ulm Eagles 5-0 with two matches ending in draws due to darkness.

Both No. 1 and No. 2 singles ended in draws for the Trojans. Elizabeth Luke lost the first set 3-6 to New Ulm’s Laura Albrecht, but had forced a 2-2 tie in the second before the game was called. Trojans’ No. 2 singles player Kirsten Aljets took the first set of her match against Jennifer Martens 6-4, but was trailing 2-0 before the game was called.

In No. 3 singles, WHS’s Laura Wetering defeated Maya Sarkar 3-6, 6-3 (10-5), while No. 4 singles player Kara Honius took down Miriam Jakel 7-5, 6-3.

The Trojans swept all three doubles matches against the Eagles on the day. The No. 1 doubles pair of Kate Lesnar and Annie Lesnar beat New Ulm’s Hannah Jakel and Marissa Johnson 0-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Worthington’s No. 2 doubles team of Emily Williamson and Rachel Drietz won their match 6-3, 6-2 over Matea Seivert and Emma Vranich, while Makensie Carstensen and Brianna Kempema took down New Ulm’s Taylor Bolduan and Meleigh Reinhart 6-3, 6-2. In JV action, Erika Schutte won her singles match 8-0, while she lost one of her doubles matches (with Sarah Janssen, 8-0) and won another (with Ashley Jansma 6-0). Jansma also won a doubles match with Alicia Khatt (8-5) and another with Janssen.

The Trojans play in the Waseca Invitational Saturday at 9 a.m.

Fairmont 4, Luverne 3

LUVERNE — The Luverne Cardinals lost their last match of the regular season to Fairmont to move to 11-5 overall.

“We came out a little flat today and really dug ourselves into some deep holes,” LHS coach Greg Antoine said.

No. 1 singles player Kaitlin Wohnoutka won the Cardinals only singles match on the day, defeating Aubrey Green 6-2, 6-1. Camilla Hermanrud of Fairmont took down Luverne’s Emily Robinson 6-2, 6-2 in No. 2 singles, while Allison Moeller beat Katie Eeten of Luverne 6-0, 6-0 in No. 3 singles. In the last singles match, Missy Vielsselman won her match over Cardinal No. 4 player Emilee Johnson 7-5, 6-1.

Kaitlin played well at 1st singles by moving the ball around and having the patience to stay in long rallies,” Antoine said. “We still need to work on hitting the ball away from the opponent in singles and not making it so easy for them.”

At No. 1 doubles, Luverne’s team of Paige Adams and Kynzie Smedsrud defeated Abby Fitzgerald and Sophie Shelgren 6-3, 6-2. Fairmont won the No. 2 doubles match with Jill Paris and Marina Rufli taking down Brianna Erickson and Daneille Kneip 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

“Paige and Kynzie stayed hot at 1 doubles,” Antoine said. “They haven’t lost to any section teams this year. They communicate and work really well together.

“Brianna and Danielle lost a quick first set and had to really played well to get themselves into the third set.”

Luverne’s McKenzie Wenninger and Tatiana Gust won the last point for Luverne, beating Briana Gratz and Andrea Carstensen 4-6, 6-4, 9-7.

“Mckenzie and Tatiana played for almost 3 hours in their match,” Antoine said. “They also had to fight back in the second set to send it to a third set. They traded games with FAirmont until they got to the tiebreaker.

“They were down 4-2 in the tiebreaker before they again fought back to tie it at 6-6, then won it 9-7. It was a good match for them going into sections.”

Luverne hosts River Valley Thursday for the start of the Section 3A Quarterfinals.

Tags: sports, prep, tennis, trojans, luverne