Posted: 10/10/07
North Branch girls tennis fights hard until end of season
 North Branch double players Cyrstal Miller, left, and Amanda Johnson play a match in the section tournament Oct. 8 in Forest Lake. For complete section tournament results, check next weeks sports section. |
On Sept. 19, the girls lost to St. Francis 2-5.
The team won at No. 1 and No. 1 singles. Katie Wicklund won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 playing one of her best complete matches of the year.
Sara Fletcher won at No. 2 singles 7-6 (9-7), 5-7 and 11-9 in a third set super tiebreaker.
Duluth East
The girls in red and white lost a close one to Duluth East 4-3 on Sept. 22.
"We played probably our best tennis of the year ... after changing our lineup again. We have lacked consistency at many of our positions this year and have been looking for our strongest lineup. I think we have found it now," head coach Tom McLaughlin said.
Wicklund continued her strong play winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-0. Fletcher started slowly before losing 0-6, 5-7. No. 3 singles Sarah Byrne won 6-2, 3-6, (12-10) in a third set super tiebreaker.
"Her opponent played a very strong second set but Byrne kept her composure during the tiebreaker to earn the win," McLaughlin said.
Bailey Milligan won easily at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-1.
Playing together for the first time, Crystal Miller and Mandy Johnson made the Vikings No. 1 doubles team, losing 4-6, 3-6 in a close match. Catie Bettendorf Byrne won 6-4, 6-3. No. 2 doubles Jessica Klow and Quiana Quam lost a close match in a super tiebreaker 4-6, 6-3, (6-10).
Grand Rapids/Greenway
On Sept. 22, the girls fell to Grand Rapids/Greenway 3-4.
"We only got one point in singles though Wicklund again played well at No. 1 singles before losing 4-6, 3-6," McLaughlin said.
Byrne won 3-6, 6-1, (10-8) in a 3rd set super tiebreaker. No. 1 doubles Miller and Mandy Johnson improved again winning a close match 5-7, 7-6 (10-8), (10-1) with a close tiebreaker to win the 2nd set and then the third set super tiebreaker. Byrne and Milligan won easily 6-2, 6-3.
Princeton
A game versus the Princeton Eagles brought a 2-5 loss North Branch's way.
"We were running out of gas at the end of a long day and Princeton probably was as well," McLaughlin said.
The team's only victories were by Bailey Milligan 6-1, 6-2 and Miller and Johnson won 6-3, 6-4.
The Vikings lost three other matches in third set super tiebreakers.
Fletcher lost 6-0, 4-6, (7-10). Byrne lost 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), (6-10). Klow and Quam lost 3-6, 6-4, (8-10). Bettendorf and Byrne lost the 1st set of their match 6-7 (7-5) in a tiebreaker but lost the second set 1-6.
"We were close to winning this match but either just didn't win the big points when we needed to or play consistently when we needed to. Overall these matches were a huge step forward for us," McLaughlin said.
Benilde- St. Margaret's
On Sept. 24, the girls lost to Benilde-St. Margaret's 1-6 while Miller and Johnson provided the highlight of the match by continuing their strong play and winning the team's only point 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) in a tiebreaker for the third set.
"Mandy and Crystal have been playing some of the best doubles of any team we've ever had in recent memory. They're getting to the net and forcing the other team to have to hit better shots," McLaughlin said.
Chisago Lakes
The girls lost to Chisago Lakes 2-5 on Sept. 27.
Byrne continued her strong play at winning 6-4, 6-3. Fletcher lost a close one at 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, (9-11). Johnson and Miller continued their strong play winning 6-2, 6-3.
Conference Tournament
Johnson and Miller were in the semifinals of the tourney having beaten Irondale in the first round and the 3rd seeded team from St. Francis in the second round.
Earlier in the week they had beaten the first seeded team from Benilde-St. Margaret's and the second seeded team from Chisago Lakes in duel meets.
They were just warming up against the team from Totino-Grace who we play today in our last conference duel meet before beginning section play.
The third doubles team of Klow and Fuller won their first match against Columbia Heights before losing to the top seeded team from Benilde-St. Margaret's.
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