Blake knocks out Mayo in state semis
Oct. 27—MINNEAPOLIS — Mayo was dealt a surprisingly one-sided blow on Wednesday morning, losing 6-1 to Blake in the Class AA girls tennis tournament semifinals at the University of Minnesota's Baseline Tennis Center.
Mayo had entered the dual as the tournament's No. 2 seed, while Blake was seeded third.
Factoring in heavily to the Spartans' loss were injuries incurred during their semifinal matches by Mayo No. 1 singles player Claire Loftus and No. 4 singles player Nandini Iyer. Both had to retire from their matches, giving Blake two free points.
Mayo's only win came at No. 3 doubles, where Jorden Ruskell and Malea Diehn combined to win 6-2, 6-2.
Loftus had split sets when she had to retire and Nandini was leading 6-3, 4-3 when she had to call it quits.
—Mayo followed up that loss by getting beat by No. 4 seed Mounds View, 5-2. Neither Loftus nor Iyer were able to play, leaving the Spartans shorthanded.
Mayo finished its season 21-3 overall.
SEMIFINALS
Blake 6, Mayo 1
Singles: Bella Suk (B) def. Claire Loftus 4-6, 6-3 (retired); Allyson Jay (B) def. Sutton Julsrud 6-1, 6-4; Nana Vang (B) def. Aoife Loftus 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; Fatemeh Van (B) def. Nandini Iyer 3-6, 3-4 (retired). Doubles: Annabelle Swigert/Ellie Nixon (B) def. Charlotte Colby/Keely Ryder 7-6 (7-2), 6-2; Nina Bush/Lilly Anderson (B) def. Audrey Aney/Ella Dozois 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Jorden Ruskell/Malea Diehn (M) def. Audrey Anderson/Lilli Haselhorst 6-2, 6-2.
THIRD PLACE
Mounds View 5, Mayo 2
Singles: Sutton Julsrud (Mayo) def. Molly Austin 6-0, 6-0; Katerina Smiricinschi (MV) def. Aoife Loftus 2-6, 7-5, 10-5; Rory Wahlstrand (MV) def. Malea Diehn 6-4, 4-6, 10-5; Isabella Myrland (MV) def. Ava Khan 6-4, 6-2. Doubles: Amanda Diao/Shaw Crockarell (MV) def. Jorden Ruskell/Audrey Aney 2-6, 6-3, 10-7; Keely Ryder/Ella Dozois (Mayo) def. Emma Sun/Avery Schifsky 6-4, 6-2; Emily Aman/Annabelle Huang (MV) def. Diane Meunier/Charlotte Colby 6-1, 6-0.
Lourdes finishes fifth
Lourdes finished the team portion of its season with a 5-2 win over Pine City for fifth place in the Cass A tournament at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center.
Lourdes was ranked No. 2 going into the tournament, while Pine City was No. 3.
The Eagles swept the singles. Ryann Witter, Ana Medina, Caroline Daly and Erin Witter all straight-sets winners. Lourdes also was a winner at No. 1 doubles, where Elyse Palen and Taylor Elliott won in three sets.
Lourdes led off the tournament against No. 1-ranked Breck, losing 5-2.
Lourdes finished its season 17-5 overall.
Lourdes 5, Pine City 2
Singles: Ryann Witter (L) def. Ella Sell 6-3, 6-4; Ana Medina (L) def. Addison Sell 6-1, 6-0; Caroline Daly (L) def. Brooke Boland 6-2, 6-0; Erin Witter (L) def. Lena Roubinek 6-4, 6-4. Doubles: Elyse Palen/Taylor Elliott (L) def. Madisen Berglund/Allison Unverzagt 3-6, 6-4, 10-7; Claire Emmons/Youngbauer Brenna (PC) 6-4, 6-1; Malia Mikyska/Rhaya Merrick (PC) def. Molly Suino/Taylor Seelhammer 6-0, 6-0.
(Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center)
QUARTERFINALS
Tuesday, Oct. 26
Fairmont 7, Morris-MAC0-WCA 0
Breck 5, Lourdes 2
Litchfield 4, Pine City 3
Providence Academy 5, Crookston 2
LOSERS BRACKET
Tuesday, Oct. 26
Lourdes 6, Morris 1
Pine City 6, Crookston 1
SEMIFINALS
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Breck 7, Fairmont 0
Litchfield 6, Providence Academy 1
FIFTH PLACE
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Lourdes 5, Pine City 2
THIRD PLACE
Wednesday, Oct. 27
No. 6 Fairmont vs. No. 10 Providence Academy, 2 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Wednesday, Oct. 27
No. 1 Breck vs. No. 4 Litchfield, 4 p.m.
STATE CLASS AA
(U of M's Baseline Tennis Center)
QUARTERFINALS
Tuesday, Oct. 26
Minnetonka 7, Simley 0
Mounds View 4, Elk River 3
Mayo 7, Bemidji 0
Blake 4, Maple Grove 3
LOSERS BRACKET
Tuesday, Oct. 26
Elk River 7, Simley 0
Maple Grove 5, Bemidji 2
SEMIFINALS
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Minnetonka 7, Mounds View 0
Blake 6, Mayo 1
FIFTH PLACE
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Maple Grove 4, Elk Rivers 3
THIRD PLACE
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Mounds View 5, Mayo 2
CHAMPIONSHIP
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Minnetonka 6, Blake 1
