Crosby-Ironton rallied from a 3-1 deficit by sweeping the final three matches to slip by the Lakers in Mid-State Conference girls tennis Thursday afternoon in Detroit Lakes.
“It was an exciting match,” DL head coach Greg Unruh said.
The final three matches went the distance with the last match ending in a third set tiebreaker.
“We had our chances to win the match, but that's tennis,” said Unruh. “There's no clock and you have to win the last point. That's the thing I love about tennis. We figured it would be a tight match since both the Rangers and Lakers had both beaten Wadena by identical 4-3 scores.”
The proved correct and it was DL’s singles players getting an early lead for the Lakers taking three of four matches.
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Siri Vagle recorded her first win at No. 1 singles defeating Monica Stokman 7-5, 6-3.
Amaya LeCleir continued her streak at four-singles, winning for the third straight time. She was a one and four victor over Isabelle Vignieri.
At three-singles, Marit Engum defeated Margaret Silgen three and two.
Ella Lewandowski of Crosby-Ironton rebounded from a 6-3 first set loss to Mya Anderson to win the match at love in the second and 6-3 in the third to get the Rangers on the scoreboard down 3-1.
Both one and three-doubles matches went the distance with the Rangers coming through in the clutch after C-I’s Emma Stokman and Teresa Goodwin picked up a second match victory for their team love and one at two doubles.
DL’s top pairing of Abby Noll and Harper Bellefeuille and the Rangers’ Ellen Silgen and Bella Sablan swapped 6-1 victories in the first two sets before the third went to a one-break victory for the visitors 7-5.
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“Abby and Harper played their best doubles of the year in the second and third sets,” Unruh said. “They saved several match points in the last game before finally being eliminated. They cut down on their unforced errors and nearly completed a great comeback. I think this match will get them fired up to work hard. They have the potential to be a really competitive doubles team.”
The third doubles match provided more drama in the form of tiebreakers in both of the second and third sets.
DL’s Taylor Winter and Jaden Mercil dropped the opener 6-3 to Natalja Tauzell and Hailey Wynn.
Winter and Mercil responded with a clutch victory 7-2 in the third set tiebreaker to force a third set that was back-and-forth to a deadlock at six games all.
Tauzell and Wynn returned the favor winning the tiebreaker 7-4.
“It stings a little to lose such a close match, but the girl's know they are improving,” said Unruh. “Singles continue to play solid tennis. One and three doubles had a good day. Even though we lost those doubles matches, the girls know that they are starting to play better. The tennis Gods have a way of evening out things. Maybe, next time we will win the close matches. I'm proud of the way the girls battled. They certainly don't have anything to hang their heads about.”
DL has two remaining meets on the regular season schedule at Crookston Tuesday, Sept. 22 and at East Grand Forks the following Tuesday.
The postseason, if happening, should be announced this coming week. According to a report by the Star Tribune’s David La Vaque Friday afternoon, a MSHSL email to its member schools indicated section tournament information for current fall sports will be sent to activities directors Monday.
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Monday is also the day the MSHSL board meets to decide on football and volleyball resuming.
Crosby-Ironton 4, Detroit Lakes 3
Singles:
No. 1 - Siri Vagle, DL def. Monica Stokman, C-I, 7-5, 6-3;
No. 2 - Ella Lewandowski, C-I def. Mya Anderson, DL, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3;
No. 3 - Marit Engum, DL def. Margaret Silgen, C-I, 6-3, 6-2;
No. 4 - Amaya LeCleir, DL def. Isabelle Vignieri, C-I, 6-1, 6-4;
Doubles:
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No. 1 - Ellen Silgen, Bella Sablan, C-I def. Harper Bellefeuille, Abby Noll, DL, 6-1, 1-6, 7-5;
No. 2 - Emma Stokman, Teresa Goodwin, C-I def. Megan Lunde, Skylar Nelson, DL, 6-0, 6-1;
No. 3 - Natalja Tauzell, Hailey Wynn, C-I def. Taylor Winter, Jaden Mercil, DL, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4).
