Viking netters suffer tough loss to Lakers

Juniors Brit Baumann and Matt Fletcher both made quick work of their opponents at the Forst Lake-North Branch match last Monday, April 14.
Baumann and Fletcher have been called leaders for the team this season and their expertise shined through Monday even though the Vikings lost the match 5-2.
ìDay in and day out, I count on strong performances from them,î said head coach Mike Lizotte.
Baumann, the No. 1 singles player for the team battled a freshman from Forest Lake and routed him 6-2, 6-1.
Fletcher, the teamís No. 2 singles, faced a senior from Forest Lake and came up with the same scores in reverse with 6-1, 6-2.
Senior Rolando Leal lost to the Forest Lake senior he faced in a 1-6, 5-7 disappointment.
ìI am hoping Rolando Leal will be able to step up his game this week,î Lizotte said. ìI donít think he played real well against Forest Lake. Rollie needs to forget about the bad shots during a match and focus on the positives.î
Senior Craig Beecher also lost against his Forest Lake opponent in 4-6, 1-6 sets.
Despite losing at fourth sings, Beecher played a decent match, Lizotte said.
ìHe just couldnít win the crucial points at crucial times in the match,î Lizotte said. ìAnd in a close match, a point here and a point there usually determines the outcome.î
All three of the Viking doubles teams took falls on the day.
Lance Arbogast and Justin Mahlke teamed up in the No. 1 spot and lost 2-6, 3-6.
Brian Meskimen and Jake Floodquist lost in their sets 2-6, 1-6.
Cody Ekstrom and Jason Endriss lost their sets 1-6, 1-6.
ìWith Steve Goranson out of the line-up, our doubles became pretty thin,î Lizotte said. ìWe just donít have enough bodies to fill the holes that are there.î
All other matches originally scheduled for last week were canceled due to rain.
The Vikes are set to host St. Michael Albertville tomorrow and will travel to Champlin Park on Friday.
The team then will host four home matches next week with Park Center (Monday), Princeton (Tuesday), Pine City (Thursday) and the North Branch Invite (Saturday) scheduled.

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