VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com/Matt Nielson) – Valley City had two more away matches on Friday and Saturday.  Friday was a make-up EDC match against Sheyenne and Saturday was a non-conference 3-2 line-up against Jamestown.

Results:  VC always listed first

VC 2

Sheyenne 7

Singles:

1. Breck Sufficool lost to Mimi Gu 6-2, 6-1
2. Abby Martineck lost to Jayne Thompson 6-3, 6-3
3. Lexia Nix lost to Alyssa Sommerfeld 6-0, 6-0
4. Kailee Nielson beat Hailey Beeter 7-2(2), 6-3
5. Abby Redfearn lost to Grace Hawkinson 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
6. Lillian Kiefert lost to Abby Timmerman 6-4, 6-2

Doubles:

1. Sufficool/Olivia Ingstad lost to Gu/Sommerfeld 6-3, 6-7(11), 6-2
2. Nix/Martineck lost to Thompson/Beeter 6-0, 6-0
3. Nielson/Redfearn beat Hawkinson/Timmerman 6-3, 6-2

Coach’s Thoughts:

Sheyenne is always well coached with a lot of girls and usually is in the state qualifying mix.  They are no different this year.  We did come away with a couple matches along with pushing them in several more.

Breck and Olivia had a huge comeback in the 2^nd set down 4-1.  They forced a tiebreaker (first to 7 points – win by 2) and won it 13-11!  They both hit free and loose, took the net over well, and played with confidence.  We won a set off one of the best players in the state.  Both Breck and Olivia should be proud of their efforts.  In singles, Breck played Mimi and earned three games.  Mimi is so consistent and hits with a little power and a lot of spin and placement.  As a freshman playing against the big dogs, Breck got a lot of experience today that will help her throughout the season.

Lexia and Abby M. had a rought time in the doubles.  Their opponents were very consistent with the wind and moved at the net.  We just never found a stride the entire match.  It happens. We just need to forget about that one and move on.  We needed Lexia in our singles line-up again even though she loathes singles.  Thanks for stepping up for the team.  Abby is our #4, but played #2 against Sheyenne and made it two close sets.  Nice job Abby.

Kailee and Abby played at the #3 doubles spot and won it 6-3, 6-2  This was Abby Redfearn’s first varsity doubles match of her career.  She played with confidence and just played.  Both Kailee and Abby were very consistent in the wind while the other team was not.  Congrats on your first doubles win Abby!  In singles, Abby played a very nice match against a senior and lost in three sets.  Abby is a fighter and will take that match and continue learning.  Kailee pulled out her singles match as well.  She was up 5-2 in the first set before playing tentatively and losing 4 games in a row.  She came back out and played to win with confidence for the remainder of the match and she did.  Good work Kailee.

Lilly played in her first varsity match ever at #6 singles.  She gave her all on every point and listened very well to coaching with a great attitude.  She had a very tight first set, losing 6-4.  Her game has come a ways this season.  Excellent job getting better each day Lilly.  Congrats on your first varsity match!

Results:

VC 2

Jamestown 3

Singles:

1. Sufficool lost to Phoebe Olson 6-0, 6-3
2. Nielson beat Cora Wolsky 6-3, 6-2
3. Georgia Zaun beat Bria Nieswaag 7-5, 6-2

Doubles:

1. Martineck/Redfearn lost to Lauryn Hibl/Olivia Schriock 6-3, 6-1
2. Ari Abrahamson/Faith Orner lost to Grace LeFevre/Mya Henderson 6-2, 6-3

Coach’s Thoughts:

I contacted the Jamestown coach to try to set up a 3-2 line-up that would be beneficial for both of our teams’ athletes.  I’m glad we did, because we had some great matchups!

At #1 singles, Breck was able to play a second top player in the state on back-to-back days.  One strength of Phoebe is her power game.  Breck worked on hitting neutral and defensive balls with pace and depth to then try to keep Phoebe at bay.  Breck has the drive, motivation, and dedication to reach the level of both Mimi and Phoebe.  It is great to play those players to see what is possible for herself.

At #2 singles, Kailee continued on with her ‘run everything down and put it back deep’ game.  This is so frustrating for developing players as they cannot keep the ball in more times than Kailee can run them down.  Kailee is figuring out how to identify where the opponents shots are going along with figuring out where to put her shots.  With the win at Jamestown, Kailee is now 8-0 on the season!

At #3 singles, 7^th grader Georgia played her first varsity match ever.  She was down 1-5 in the first set.  Coach Susan Kringlie helped her with parts of her game and the mindset of a varsity match.  Georgia figured it out and executed on the court, winning five games in a row to take the first set – wow!  Georgia is hitting with top spin and isn’t afraid to come to the net.  When at the net, she was split stepping and then angling balls away.  She cruised to a second set win for her first varsity victory ever!

At #1 doubles, we had Abby and Abby playing against a very good doubles team to include one of my favorite non-VC players in Lauryn Hibl.  We came out of the shoot fast with a 3-0 lead before Lauryn and Olivia got into their groove.  As this was only Redfearn’s 2^nd doubles match and still Martineck’s first year of varsity, we still have a lot of growing to do in where to be, strategy, and fundamentals of doubles.  I am very pleased with how far both Redfearn and Martineck have come so far this season.  I also know that both of their ceilings are very high which is exciting as a coach to be a part of their development.  Keep at it ladies!

At #2 doubles, Ari Abrahamson and Faith Orner played their first varsity match ever as well.  This is Ari’s first year out for tennis.  She picked it up last summer and has played a lot since then with friends and with the backboard at the north courts.  I just wish she picked it up in 7^th grade to see where she could have been this year!  Faith has been with the team for five years and hits our pillars of positive attitude, sportsmanship, communication, and 100% effort every day.  Both Ari and Faith are great young adults.  They played tough on their first match ever – winning five games in the process.  Nice job Ari and Faith.

Varsity Exhibition/JV/JH Match Records for both matches:

Georgia Zaun 2-2

Ari Abrahamson 3-0

Faith Orner 3-0

Trinity Nelson 2-0

Jerrica Eldridge 0-2

Amanda Reisnour 1-0

Savannah Huffstutler 1-2

Chelsea Urbano 2-1

Ella Olson 1-1

Alyssa Thomsen 1-3

Naomi Hanson 1-2

Madison Trzpuc 0-1

Laney Stearns 1-4

Kylee Swenson 1-2

Sophia Thiel 1-2

Chesney Thomsen 1-4

The JV and Junior High were able to play at the same courts as the varsity at both Sheyenne and Jamestown.  Watching the varsity play should give you motivation to continue to learn and grow as you strive to become our next varsity players.  Our JV/JH players understand the game and the etiquette.  They continue to learn where to put the ball and where to be on the court.  Sophia and Kylee are really new to tennis and both got a win over the weekend and are a great part of our team.  Nice job JV and Junior High!

Next action is Tuesday at home against the #1 team in the EDC, the Fargo Davies Eagles.