Three first place, one second place and three third place finishes were accomplished by Becker’s superb tennis players at last Saturday’s Granite Ridge Conference match in Foley.
The match was the final regular season tune-up for the 14-2 Bulldogs until Section 8AA play began Friday and Saturday (today) in Sartell.
Kat Suckert, Madison Anderson, Ellie Tobako, Kayla Wilken and Shelby Huebert combined to bring home first place for the Bulldogs. Lindsey Lorette and Rachel Lukkarilla brought home second place at #1 doubles and Olivia Hultgren, Ashley Souba and Aundria Howard took home third place prizes.
#2 singles player Suckert won her first round match over Katie Murner of Mora rather easily with straight set wins, 6-0, 6-0. She followed that up with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Kayla McKiver of Foley in the second round, then beat Ruth Rike of Pine City (no scores given).
#1 singles player Hultgren won her first round match with Arielle Emerson of Little Falls, 6-2, 6-1 to advance. She lost to Claire Browning of Aitkin, 6-3, 6-4 to fall to the consolation round. She finished off Hattie Scott of Foley, 6-4, 6-0 to take home third place.
Souba, playing at #3 singles, beat Nikki Courtemanche of Aitkin, 6-1, 6-4 in her first round match, then lost to Katelynn Kanieski of Little Falls by a score of 6-2, 7-5. In the third place match, Souba knocked off Kennadie Anderson of Mora, 6-2, 7-6(7-1) to take home third place.
At #4 singles, Howard beat Mikayla Gottwalt of Little Falls in her first round matchup, then lost to eventual champion Lexi Miller of Pine City by a score of 7-5, 6-3. In the third place match, Howard beat Brynn Wilson of Aitkin, 7-5, 1-6 (10-2) to win third place.
Anderson and Tobako, playing at #2 doubles, had a bye in their first round match, then beat Beth Oldakowski and Brittney Boser of Pierz to advance to the championship match. they proceeded to beat Caitlyn Furber and Alexis Miller, 6-1, 6-4 to take home first place.
Wilken and Huebert, playing at #3 doubles, beat their first round opponents, Alysia Przybilla and Alivia Leidenfrost of Pierz by a score of 6-1, 6-1. Next, the Becker girls beat Maria Carpenter and Morganne Johnson of Pine City (no score given) to advance to the championship match against Holly Wennerberg and Grace Bursch of Foley. Wilken and Huebert took first place by outscoring the duo from Foley, 6-2, 3-6 (10-5).
At #1 doubles, the Becker duo of Lorette and Lukkarilla made the second round of their division with a bye, then beat Kelsey Moulzolf and Shelbie Boser, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in the second round to gain the championship match. Their title hopes were dashed when Lisa Anderson and Marissa Kinzer beat them in a hard-fought battle, 7-5, 2-6 (10-8).
The girls finished the regular season with a 14-2 record and began Section 8AA play in Sartell Friday and Saturday (full report on matches in next week’s Citizen).
