GRAND FORKS, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City Hi-Liners dropped their fourth match in a row with an 8-1 decision to Grand Forks Red River Tuesday in Grand Forks.
Blake Triebold at #1 singles had the lone win for the Hi-Liners. He defeated Sayler Kuenzel 6-4, 6-4.
Here are the results and Coach Nielson’s Comments:
On the first day of fall, summer showed up. It was a warm match today at Grand Forks Red River.
VC 1
GFRR 8
Singles:
1. Blake Triebold beat Sayler Kuenzel 6-4, 6-4
2. Seth Zeltinger lost to Espn Schneider by default
3. Derek Bear lost to Ryan Muizeluar 6-0, 6-0
4. Trey Cope lost to Sam Murphy 6-1, 6-0
5. Ethan Bear lost to Kellen Johnson 6-4, 6-1
6. Max Magnuson lost to Carson Skarperud 6-1, 6-2
Doubles:
1. Triebold/Zeltinger lost to Muizeluar/Karsen Johnson 0-6, 6-2, 7-6(4)
2. D.Bear/Cope lost to Murphy/Jett Weis 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
3. E.Bear/Magnuson lost to Johnson/Erik Stokke 6-0, 6-3
Varsity Exhibition:
Alex Rogelstad lost 7-6(4)
Emmett Olson lost 6-1
Rogelstad/Olson lost 6-1, 6-2, and 6-4
JV Singles:
Gavin Swenson: los 0-6, 0-6
Kellen Westman lost 3-6, 2-6
Jared Burke lost 1-6
Jacob Kruger lost 2-6
Miles Taylor lost 2-6, 5-7
Matthew Holm lost 0-6
Collin Hoff lost 1-6
JV Doubles:
Jayden Johnson/M. Taylor won 6-3
J. Kruger/Noah Tulp lost 1-6
M. Holm/C. Hoff lost 3-6
J. Johnson/K. Westman lost 2-6
N. Tulp/C. Hoff lost 5-7
J. Burke/M. Holm lost 0-6
J. Burke/K. Kruger lost 4-6
J. Johnson/G. Swenson lost 3-6
M. Holm/N. Tulp lost 1-6
Total: 1-17
Coach Nielson’s Varsity Comments:
We had another different feel again today without Kai and Casey. Ethan and Max stepped up today by pulling double duty playing in both the singles and the doubles. They played together at three doubles and started working together more in the second set nabbing three games. A big difference in varsity doubles over JV doubles is that varsity puts the ball in the right spots. If you aren’t in those right spots, your opponent hits winners. Max and Ethan were very coachable and made corrections on the court which led to them getting in the right spots and getting more balls back. In singles, they both earned their varsity stripes today. Their footwork was 100% better than I’ve ever seen out of these two. Ethan’s shoes were squeaking on every point. Max was dead tired after the match as he moved to get into the right position on every ball. They both stepped in and attacked their shots. We have some work to do on shot selection, but their drive and focus was there. They should be very proud of their efforts today. Excellent work gentlemen.
Trey and Derek had very difficult opponents in singles and couldn’t find a groove. Maybe we were trying too hard? Both understood what they should be doing, but when your mind is trying to force your body to play then your body doesn’t execute. We need to be in the moment…JUST like they were in the second set of doubles. These two played a very good doubles team at #2 and took a set! Derek was stepping in and rocketing lasers for groundstrokes. Both Trey and Derek were moving at the net, being monsters and putting away balls. They let the game come to them and they both hit ‘the zone.’ ’The zone’ is elusive and you cannot get there by trying to get there. It is something that happens when you are so focussed on the present that the future and the past don’t exist. It was very fun to watch these two play that way.
Speaking of ’the zone,’ Blake and Seth played the best set of doubles that I have ever had the pleasure of watching first hand. Their returns were hard, controlled, and placed. They attacked the net off short balls, off returns, and even threw in some serve and volley. The game came to them. Seth was fighting a migraine all day and that took its toll through the rest of the match. We had opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize. With the migraine, Seth needed to default his singles match. In singles, Blake fought again. After Blake played a 3 set doubles match in the 82 degree heat, he turned around and played a Red River player that sat out of the doubles line-up. Blake pushed the ball for consistency. He brought Sayler to the net to then pass him. It was ugly tennis. But – tennis doesn’t need to be pretty to win and Blake knows that. If something is not working, he can change on the spot. If something is working, he keeps going to it until it doesn’t work. Blake went to one knee several times in the second set with leg cramps and was able to fight through. After winning, he fell to the ground in agony with cramps all the way up his leg. The fight is endless in this special player.
In exhibition, Alex and Emmett both played four sets. At the start of the day we were hitting the first ball, dropping the racquet and watching leaving us out of position and unprepared for the next ball. They both took coaching very well and after a shot, both Alex and Emmett started recovering to the next position and split stepping leading to exploding to the next ball. Good improvement today fellas!
Coach Susan Kringlie’s JV Comments:
Our JV team saw plenty of action today at Grand Forks Red River. This was the most singles matches played this season and we gained valuable experience by learning to keep the ball in play and to keep fighting back when we were down. Veterans Jayden Johnson and Miles Taylor anchored the JV squad today with outstanding serving and shot selection. Seventh graders Collin White and Noah Tulp worked hard at the net and kept running down balls on the baseline. Great effort by the JV team today!
Next action is at West Fargo Sheyenne on Thursday at 4pm for the last regular season EDC match. The winner of this match will be the #6 seed and will play the #3 seed (Davies or South) in the first round of the regional tournament. The loser of this match will be the #7 seed and will host West Fargo High in the play-in match on Monday followed (if they win) by the #2 seed Red River.