The Valley City Hi-Liners continued their march towards a second straight regular-season EDC title yesterday with a resounding 8-1 over the Grand Forks Central Knights, the only team to defeat the Hi-Liners twice last season.

For one of the few times this season, the team of Abby Martineck and Breck Sufficool was challenged, as the defending state champions had to grind out a three-set win. After rallying from 5-4 down to win the first set, the defending state champions proved their championship mettle to take a third set super tiebreaker 10-8.

Kailee Neilson and Georgia Zaun would also continue their winning ways, rolling in their doubles matchup to win in straight sets (6-3, 6-1). Zaun would then move to singles action, winning in straight sets over Stella Blue (6-1, 6-3). Hi-Liners Head Coach Matt Neilson had this to say about his rising sophomore’s improvements this season: “Georgia is really developing with her shot selection of when to play defense, neutral, and offense, which keeps her in points and wins her points.”

The lone win on the day for Knights came in singles play when Kailee Neilson was unable to finish off Central’s Madi Stauss in the second set, who rallied not only to win the set but also rolled in the third set to take the win (6-4, 6-7(6), 10-6). Outside of that setback, the rest of the Hi-Liners rolled to wins, with only Abby Martineck needing a third set to finish off her opponent.

The day’s most impressive performance belonged to Ella Olson, who continued her hot play by only dropping one game on her way to a straight sets win over Peyton Ault (6-0, 6-1).  Lexi Svenningsen wrapped up the day’s action with a win over Taylor Grinde (6-4, 6-1) to finish off an 8-1 win for the Hi-Liners.

Valley City now improves to 5-0 on the year in EDC play. Their next scheduled game is Monday, May 6th, against the Fargo South Bruins.

 

Results: Valley City listed first

VC 8

GFC 1

 

Singles:

1. Kailee Nielson lost to Madi Stauss 6-4, 6-7(6), 10-6

2. Abby Martineck defeated Alli Wilhelmi 6-1, 3-6, 10-8

3. Georgia Zaun defeated Stella Blue 6-1, 6-3

4. Skye Nielson defeated Hawi Lemma 6-1, 6-1

5. Ella Olson defeated Peyton Ault 6-0, 6-1

6. Lexi Svenningsen defeated Taylor Grinde 6-4, 6-1

 

Doubles:

1. Breck Sufficool/Martineck defeated Stauss/Wilhelmi 7-5, 2-6, 10-7

2. K. Nielson/Zaun defeated Blue/Lemma 6-3, 6-1

3. S. Nielson/Alyssa Thomsen defeated Lea Johnson/Gabrielle Cormier 6-1, 6-2

 

Photos provided by Brent Thomsen