The Becker Bulldog girls tennis team went 4-1 in five matches this past week, improving to a 9-5 record.

 

Thursday, Becker traveled to Little Falls to take on the Flyers and whooped them, 6-1.

 

“All the girls played well, with the #1 doubles team facing two of the opponents’ top players and fell in straight sets,” said Head Coach Nathan Bucher. “Everyone else found their rhythm after the first set and played strong in the second set.”

 

That #1 doubles duo of Hannah Bengtson and Maddie Anderson had their hands full with Arielle Emerson and Grace Schulte, losing in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. The #2 doubles team of Megan Nelson and Taylor Pawlicki took out Little Falls’ Libby Kula and Sadie Sue Houdek, 6-3, 6-3 and the #3 doubles team of Amanda Brown and Ally Kangas dispatched of Ashley Witucki and Madeline Wright, 7-5, 6-1.

 

The singles players for Becker all swept their matches, with #1 singles player Olivia Hultgren beating Angela Meschke, 6-1, 6-1. Rachel Lukkarilla easily took care of business against Lydia Lange, beating her 6-1, 6-3 playing at #2 singles. Ashley Souba had little trouble with Sophie Jorgenson, beating her by 6-4, 6-1 scores and Anna Ritchie dominated at #4 singles, beating Little Falls’ Kearny Hanson, 6-1, 6-0.

 

 

Monday, Becker hosted Pine City and pulled out a close one match win.

 

“After losing to this same team a year ago as the only loss in conference play, it was encouraging to come out strong,” said Bucher. 

 

Becker again had many close points where they had chances at winning the matches — especially at #3 doubles and #4 singles — but just came up short.

 

 However, the #1 and #2 doubles teams played strong and came away with the wins to clinch the match.  Bengtson and Anderson beat Raven Rarick and Morganne Johnson, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (9-7) and Nelson and Pawlicki beat McKenzie Kloecki and Caitlin Furbert, 6-3, 6-2.

 

Rachel Lukkarilla and Ashley Souba played very well, hitting great ground strokes with pace and tact. Lukkarilla won her match at #2 singles over Gracie LeBrun, 6-1, 6-1 and Souba beat Anna Miller, 6-4, 6-3.

 

Hultgren played a tough match, battling a strong and consistent junior in Natalie Cahill. Hultgren lost in two sets, 6-2, 6-2. Anna Ritchie also made a great comeback at #4 singles, winning the second and playing a close third, but Elisabeth Cahill outlasted her with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 win.

 

The #3 doubles team from Becker — Amanda Lindsay and Payton Bernstrom — found their groove in the second set and had opportunities in the third set to put it away, but Pine City’s Emily Carpenter and Lydia Adams kept themselves in the match and came away with the win at 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.

 

Saturday, Becker hit the road to Buffalo to play against the Bison, Waseca and Mound- Westonka.

 

“We played really well, especially in our first round against Mound-Westonka,” said Bucher. “The doubles team swept their match and played really well. Everything was clicking together for them.”

 

Hultgren played an incredible match against a girl she had never beaten, Evann Welty. Hultgren prevailed with a 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3) win. 

 

The only loss for Becker against MWT was Souba at #3 singles, a 6-2, 6-1 loss to Kristina Linder.

 

Against Buffalo, the Bulldogs took wins at #1 singles (Hultgren) and #2 doubles (Nelson/Pawlicki) and #3 doubles (Lindsay/Bernstrom), but dropped the match 4-3.

 

“Buffalo ended up taking some points that were very winnable for us and beat us head to head,” said Bucher. 

 

Against Waseca, Becker got wins from #1, #2 and #4 singles and won at #2, #3 and #4 doubles play. 

 

As the day ended, there was a three-way tie between Becker, Mound-Westonka and Buffalo,” said Bucher. “A tiebreaker was conducted and it was announced that Becker and Buffalo were co-champions of the day.” 

 

Tuesday, Becker travels to Aitkin for a 4:30 p.m. match, then returns home to host a seven-team tournament next Saturday against Foley, Little Falls, Mora, Pine City, Pierz Healy and Aitkin.