GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Eastern Dakota Conference girls tennis season opened Friday with Valley City falling 6-3 to Grand Forks Red River, but head coach Matt Nielson came away encouraged by his young team’s grit and potential.

“The EDC is wide open this year,” Nielson said. “Red River is good, and there are at least five other teams that are too. We’re one of them. Today, Red River got the best of us.”

Valley City is reloading after graduating four of its top seven players from last year’s state championship team. Those four – Breck Sufficool, Abby Martineck, Alyssa Thomsen and Ella Olson – combined for 243 career victories.

That leaves room for a new wave of Hi-Liners to step up, including freshman Sara Beierle and eighth grader Lexi Svenningsen, who saw limited varsity action last year but bring valuable postseason experience.

“Sara is coachable and has improved her volleys significantly,” Nielson said. “Lexi has made big strides too – her topspin on both sides is stronger, and her volleys are going to the right spots.”

Eighth grader Chloe Liebersbach also made her varsity debut Friday, playing in both singles and doubles. Though she didn’t practice with the varsity squad last season, her summer court time paid off.

“She’s a court rat and always has a racquet in her hand,” Nielson said. “Her positivity is infectious, and her tennis IQ is already high.”

Junior Georgia Zaun, an All-EDC selection with 90 career wins, was moved to the No. 2 singles spot to accommodate Kailee Nielson, who was testing her knee after missing much of the basketball season. Zaun lost to Maddy Nelson in straight sets.

“Georgia has the game,” Nielson said. “If she can start identifying and attacking opponents’ weaknesses, she’ll win more points.”

Sisters Kailee and Skye Nielson delivered the highlight of the day, teaming up for the first time in a varsity doubles match. After dropping the first set and trailing 0-5 in the second, they rallied to win 4-6, 7-6(3), 10-3.

“They started moving better, attacking their shots and playing looser,” Nielson said.

The win marked Kailee’s 100th career victory and Skye’s 50th. Both followed with dominant singles wins.

In exhibition play, Valley City split eight matches. Senior Maddie Nelson went 2-0, as did eighth grader Addie Tufte. Sophie Gilbertson and Alizabeth Nelson also made their varsity debuts.

Up next, Valley City hosts Fargo Shanley at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Shanley will be playing its season opener, while the Hi-Liners will have a bye later in the week.

Results

Grand Forks Red River 6, Valley City 3

Singles

1. Skye Nielson (VC) def. Addy Lommen 6-3, 6-1

2. Maddy Nelson (GFRR) def. Georgia Zaun 6-3, 6-3

3. Kailee Nielson (VC) def. Naomi Rahman 6-2, 6-1

4. Ruby Schneider (GFRR) def. Lexi Svenningsen 6-3, 6-2

5. Kalli Block (GFRR) def. Sara Beierle 6-0, 6-2

6. Irene Tang (GFRR) def. Chloe Liebersbach 6-3, 6-4

Doubles

1. Kailee Nielson/Skye Nielson (VC) def. Addy Lommen/Ruby Schneider 4-6, 7-6(3), 10-3

2. Elizabeth Kilgore/Lauren Enders (GFRR) def. Georgia Zaun/Lexi Svenningsen 6-3, 6-2

3. Maddy Nelson/Kalli Block (GFRR) def. Sara Beierle/Chloe Liebersbach 6-2, 6-3