VALLEY CITY, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  A strong opening for the Hi-Liner girls tennis team led to a sweep over West Fargo Monday.

Valley City defeated West Fargo 9-0 in an Eastern Dakota Conference (EDC) matchup to open 2023 play.  A young team, featuring a seventh-grader and two freshmen in the varsity lineup, did not see a match in singles drop more than three games in a set.

Junior Breck Sufficool and senior Olivia Ingstad fought through matches at number one and two singles, respectively, with Sufficool defeating Paige Knuttila 6-3, 6-2, and Ingstad knocking off Ava VonPinnon 6-3, 6-3.

Freshmen Kailee Nielson and Georgia Zaun won at three and four singles, with Zaun sweeping Jayci Lawerance 6-0, 6-0.  Abby Redfearn won at number five singles, and Skye Nielson, a seventh-grader, swept Hannah Moseng 6-0, 6-0.

Sufficool and Redfearn teams for a win at number-one doubles.  Ingstad and Kailee Nielson teams for a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at number two doubles, and and Zaun teamed with Alyssa Thomsen for a win at number three doubles to complete the sweep.

Head coach Matt Nielson credited his team’s mental approach to the game for the quality of play.  “We played smart, winning tennis. Breck used slice and drop shots. Olivia kept mixing her game up which confused her opponent. Kailee came to the net and used angles. Georgia used heavy topspin. Abby started placing the ball deep and then crept in to win points.  Skye picked on the backhand of her opponent.”

The Hi-Liners travel to Fargo North Thursday.