The Becker girls tennis team had a near perfect start this fall, starting the season with a busy second week with matches August 19, 20, 22, and 23.  

 

Starting in the New London-Spicer tri, the Becker team defeated Benson in the first round of play 6-1, after which the host team fell to Becker 7-0.

 

 Next was the Melrose Invitational.  Becker drew Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and posted a decisive 7-0 win. Next up was Melrose, a team that had edged out the Bulldogs last year. Becker fought to win 5-2 with Kat Suckert playing No. 2 singles and coming back to win in a third set to add emphasis. 

 

The next match was against Big Lake, where the Bulldogs, feeling strong and confident after their recent success, posted a 6-1 victory. 

 

 The last match of the tiring week was a doubles tournament hosted by St. Cloud Tech. that included six teams:  Becker, St. Cloud Tech, Rocori, Pequot Lakes, Foley, and Staples-Motley, competing with 5 positions of doubles teams. It was a long day of good tennis.  Olivia Hultgren and Kat Suckert playing the No. 1 position drew a very strong St. Cloud Tech team and competed well, but fell in the first round. Also drawing St. Cloud Tech in the first round was the No. 2 team of Maddie Anderson and Lindsey Lorette, again showing a great competitiveness before being overcome by the Tiger team.

 

 The No. 3, 4 and 5 teams posted strong wins in their first and second rounds, putting them in the championship spot for their position. The No. 4 team of Rachel Lukkarila and Ashley Souba won decisively 6-3, 6-4 against St. Cloud Tech.

 

 Next off the court was the No. 5 team with a hard fought win against St. Cloud Tech, 6-4, 4-6, 7-3 (tiebreaker for third set). The No. 3 team of Ellie Tobako and Aundria Howard also met St. Cloud Tech in the finals and played well before losing the first set in a tiebreaker.  They were then overcome 4-6 in the second set, taking second place for their position. The No. 1 and No. 2 positions both played well and split their next two rounds, recording fifth- and fourth-place finishes in the tournament. 

 

 The last match recorded prior to school beginning was Thursday Aug. 28 at home against Cambridge-Isanti.  It was the first match the girl’s team hosted on Becker's new courts, and the Bulldogs came out strong.  The rain proved too consistent, however, and play was forced into the Becker Field House. After both sides adjusted to the new surface, play resumed and saw great competition on both sides of the court.  Becker came out on top 5-2. 

 

 "The girls have been playing really well in these last two weeks. We have experience on our side and the team is playing confidently. We have some things to work on as we prepare for the rest of the season, but the girls are great competitors and have been a joy to coach," said first year varsity coach Nathan Bucher.

 

 

All four Bulldog singles tennis players won their matches Thursday afternoon and two of the three doubles teams did the same as Becker rolled to an easy win over Mora 6-1.

 

Livy Hultgren beat Kelly Neil 6-0, 6-2 at #1 singles. Kat Suckert won 6-3, 6-2 over Karrie Murner at #2 singles. Rachel Lukkarila was challenged but beat  Kennedie Anderson  6-3, 5-7, 6-0 at #3 singles and Ashley Souba triumphed over Isabelle Bailey, 6-2, 6-3

 

In doubles, Lindsey Lorette and Maddie Anderson easily dispatched of Ally Eustice and Lauren Vreeland, 6-0, 6-2 in #1 doubles. Ellie Tobako and Megan Nelson lost to Shelby Kolu and Shelby Kneizler, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (10-8), 4-6 in #2 doubles and Shelby Huebert and Aundria Howard beat Julia Gams and Morgan Brettingen, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.