GIRLS TENNIS: Lumberjacks open Section 8AA run with 2 wins, advance to final 4
Oct. 5—FARGO, N.D. — The Bemidji High School girls tennis team is marching back toward the top of Section 8AA.
The Lumberjacks, in pursuit of their third consecutive section championship, took the first two steps on Tuesday in Fargo, N.D. Top-seeded BHS defeated eighth-seeded East Grand Forks 6-1 and then fifth-seeded Alexandria 4-3 to advance to the final four of the Section 8AA Team Tournament.
Against EGF, Bemidji swept the singles action to power the victory. Emily Dondelinger won 7-5, 6-4 at the top spot, while Anna Glen followed at No. 2 as a clean 6-0, 6-0 winner. Aline Arenas also cruised 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3, and Elizabeth Peterson rounded out the bunch with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 showing at No. 4.
The success carried over to doubles play, where Darby Neis and Maddie Jensen prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) at No. 1, while Kendal Midboe and Elena Peterson toughed out a 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 10-5 comeback win at No. 2.
BHS then advanced to the section quarterfinals against Alexandria. Elizabeth Peterson won again at fourth singles, this time by a 6-0, 6-0 margin, while Noelle Mueller and Sam Wood produced a 6-2, 6-4 victory at third doubles. The Neis/Jensen tandem got the Jacks their third team point by winning 7-5, 6-3 at top doubles, and Dondelinger then earned the clinching team point with her 7-5, 6-2 victory at top singles.
Now 18-2 on the season, Bemidji advances to the semifinals of the Section 8AA Team Tournament at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, in Sartell. The section championship match will follow at 6 p.m.
Before that, though, the 8AA North Subsection Individual Tournament will kick off at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, back in Fargo.
Bemidji 6, East Grand Forks 1
Singles
No. 1: Dondelinger (BHS) def. Leach, 7-5, 6-4
No. 2: Glen (BHS) def. Hanson, 6-0, 6-0
No. 3: Arenas (BHS) def. Troemner, 6-1, 6-2
No. 4: Eli. Peterson (BHS) def. Kimball, 6-3, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1: Neis/Jensen (BHS) def. Farder/Bowman, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
No. 2: Midboe/Ele. Peterson (BHS) def. Rothenberger/Petrovich, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 10-5
No. 3: Cantera/Walsh (EGF) def. Mueller/Wood, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
Bemidji 4, Alexandria 3
Singles
No. 1: Dondelinger (BHS) def. Rousu, 7-5, 6-2
No. 2: Wegner (ALX) def. Glen, 6-2, 6-1
No. 3: Lattimer (ALX) def. Arenas, 6-0, 6-4
No. 4: Eli. Peterson (BHS) def. Bitzan, 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1: Neis/Jensen (BHS) def. Runge/Halverson, 7-5, 6-3
No. 2: Rolin/Aure (ALX) def. Midboe/Ele. Peterson, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
No. 3: Mueller/Wood (BHS) def. Odland/Thiery, 6-2, 6-4
