The Laker girls’ tennis team lost a pair of close matches Thursday at the Park Rapids Triangular with Crosby-Ironton.
The Rangers defeated Detroit Lakes 4-3 sweeping the doubles and the No. 4 singles match for the win.
Dani Unruh, Emma Maguire and Grace Kinney took the top three singles matches for the Lakers.
Unruh defeated Shelain Lewis love and one; Maguire blanked Kyja Lindahl 6-0, 6-0 and Kinnehy defeated Loren Sablan four and one.
“We played a strong singles lineup and Crosby-Ironton played a strong doubles lineup,” Laker head coach Tanner Beauchman said. “The top of our lineup played really well. Dani and Emma picked up easy wins and Grace shook off a slow start to earn our third win.”
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The deciding match between Kalina Spali of C-I and DL’s Sydney Stewart went the distance with Spali prevailing from a set down 5-7, 6-4, 7-1/
“Sydney played well but unfortunately lost in a third set tiebreak. Losing a close match is always tough, but I was happy our young team got to experience a dual decided by one match. It was a good learning experience for our team.”
The host Panthers took five of seven matches to down the Lakers, who were playing at full strength with the return of Hailey Sonstegard.
“She is coming off an illness and just had her wisdom teeth pulled. Hailey and Emma played really well together and they will definitely be seeing some more time at No. 1 doubles. Emma had a great day. She only dropped three games in two matches.”
Sonstegard and Maguire won their match one and two.
Shelby Busker earned her first varsity victory for the Lakers’ second team point.
“I was so happy for Shelby,” said Beauchman. “She has been working so hard and it was great to see her hard work pay off.”
The Lakers play again Friday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. versus Fergus Falls and Thief River Falls at home.
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Laker results
Detroit Lakes at Park Rapids Triangular, Park Rapids, Crosby-Ironton, Thursday, Sept. 3
Crosby-Ironton 4, Detroit Lakes 3
Singles
#1 Dani Unruh (DL) over Shelain Lewis (CI) 6-0, 6-1
#2 Emma Maguire (DL) over Kyja Lindahl (CI) 6-0, 6-0
#3 Grace Kinney (DL) over Loren Sablan (CI) 6-4, 6-1
#4 Kalina Spali (CI) over Sydney Stewart (DL) 5-7, 6-4, 7-1
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Doubles
#1 Froidcoeur/Froidcoeur (CI) over Ring/Sonstegard (DL) 6-0, 6-1
#2 Kuhlmann/Kertzmann (CI) over Skjonsberg/Nickolauson (DL) 6-0, 6-1
#3 Stangel/Norwood (CI) over Busker/Johnston (DL) 6-1, 6-1
Park Rapids 5, Detroit Lakes 2
Singles
#1 Julia Smith (PR) over Dani Unruh (DL) 7-5, 6-4
#2 Natalie Kinkel (PR) over Grace Kinney (DL) 6-0, 6-0
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#3 Tori Hilmanowski (PR) over Sydney Stewart (DL) 6-3, 6-0
#4 Shelby Busker (DL) over Megan Powers (PR) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
#1 Sonstegard/Maguire (DL) over Hilmanowski/MacPherson (PR) 6-1, 6-2
#2 Palmer/Clark (PR) over Skjonsberg/Ring (DL) 6-2, 6-0
#3 Wallace/Eischens (PR) over Johnston/Nickolauson (DL) 6-0, 6-2
