After several rainouts, Valley City Tennis took to the courts again for another EDC matchup, this time against the West Fargo Packers. The Hi-Liners wasted no time in putting this matchup to rest, easily rolling to an 8-1 win.

With Abby Martineck at DECA Nationals, the Hi-Liners would shake up their doubles pairings and order. Stepping up into the number one spot would be the sophomore team of Georgia Zaun, and Kailee Neilson, who rolled to a straight sets win without dropping a single game. The new pairing of Breck Sufficool and Alyssa Thomsen quickly dispatched of Paige Knuittlia and Rachel Spainer (6-0, 6-3), with eighth graders Skye Nielson and Sara Beierle closing out a perfect day for Valley City doubles with a win over Jayci Lawrence and Ava Halvorson (6-2, 6-3).

The absence of Martineck also allowed for a shakeup in the singles lineup as well for Valley City. With Sufficool getting the day off for singles play the top of the Valley City singles squad was anchored by Kailee Neilson, Georgia Zaun, and Skye Neilson who all cruised to a straight sets win. After trailing early in a game Ella Olson was able to rally to not only take the game but take the set as well.

The lone loss for Valley City came in singles match five when eighth grader Sara Beierle, took Ava Halvorson all the way to a super tiebreaker but couldn’t quite put the junior away. Coach Neislon described the support that his young player got from her teammates after  tough loss: “Her teammates came over to support her right away. Sara gave it her all for the entire match and that is all we can ask. She should be proud of how she competed just as her teammates and coaches are proud of her.”

The contest between Valley City and West Fargo was concluded after Hi-Liner seventh grader Lexi Svenningsen wrapped up a straight sets win over Rachel Spainer to claim her first every varsity victory.

The Hi-Liners will be back in action today against the Grand Forks Central Knights who were the only team to defeat Valley City twice last season. That matchup will be at the Choice Health and Fitness indoor tennis courts in Grand Forks.

 

Results: (Valley City Listed First)

VC 8

WF 1

Singles:

1. Kailee Nielson defeated Ava Von Pinnon 6-0, 6-0
2. Georgia Zaun defeated Paige Knuittlia 6-2, 6-0
3. Skye Nielson defeated Hope Uggerud 6-1, 6-1
4. Ella Olson defeated Jayci Lawrence 6-0, 6-3
5. Sara Beierle lost to Ava Halvorson 6-3, 4-6, 12-10
6. Lexi Svenningsen defeated Rachel Spainer 6-2, 6-3

Doubles:

1. K. Nielson/Zaun defeated Von Pinnon/Uggerud 6-0, 6-0
2. Breck Sufficool/Alyssa Thomsen defeated Knuittlia/Spainer 6-0, 6-3
3. S. Nielson/Beierle defeated Halvorson/Lawrence 6-2, 6-3

 

Photos Provided by Brent Thomsen.