WEST FARGO, N.D. (NewsDakota.com/Matt Nielsen) – The Hi-Liners took our first away trip of the year to the West Fargo Packers and came home with a win.

VC 8

WF 1

Singles:

1. Breck Sufficool defeated Reet Goyal 4-6, 6-3, 10-6
2. Olivia Ingstad defaulted to Katilyn Carlson
3. Maisie Leick defeated Zoe Elhard 3-6, 6-0, 10-5
4. Abby Martineck defeated Paige Knuttila 6-0, 6-0
5. Kailee Nielson defeated Hope Uggerud 6-1, 6-2
6. Abby Redfearn defeated Ava Pinnan 6-1, 6-0

Doubles:

1. Sufficool/Ingstad defeated Goyal/Kraft 6-4, 6-3
2. Martineck/Lexia Nix defeated Carlson Knuttila 6-2, 6-2
3. Leick/Nielson defeated Elhard/Uggerud 6-1, 6-1

Varsity Exhibition Match Records:

Lillian Kiefert  3-0

Georgia Zaun  2-1

Ari Abrahamson 3-0

Redfearn/Nix 1-0

Coaches Comments:

Each day is a new adventure with illness and injury and life.  We have to on a daily basis be able to use a ‘next player up’ mentality.  Today, Abby Redfearn played her first varsity match ever.  Abby Martineck and Lexia Nix bumped from #3 doubles to #2 doubles.  Maise Leick dropped to three doubles to play with Kailee Nielson in Kailee’s first varsity doubles match ever.  All of players took the challenge head and had great attitudes while playing.

Breck and Olivia won their first match together at #1 doubles.  They executed their split-step which led to getting more balls back and put-a-way opportunities.  This was Breck’s and Olivia’s first win together at #1 doubles!  Olivia fought through a wrist injury in the doubles and she and the coach thought it wise to not push it with singles.  Breck dropped the first set against a good opponent in Reet.  Breck really bought in to what we talked about on the set change-over.  Breck started shaping her shots higher and deeper when in the neutral or defensive position and waited for the opportunity to attack.  We call that patiently aggressive on our team and Breck executed it well to earn the comeback victory.

Abby M. and Lexia were in the driver’s seat their entire match.  They moved well at the net and put volleys away.  Even when we control the match, there are things to work on.  Both Abby and Lexia need to continue to work the return as well as the awkward ball ground stroke.  We weren’t comfortable with either of those today, but this will improve with experience.  Abby bageled her opponent in singles by being consistent and hitting to her opponents weaker side.  Nice job Abby and Lexia.

Maisie paired up with Kailee at #3 doubles.  Maisie was a fabulous mentor to Kailee in her first doubles match being energetic and positive.  With Maisie’s belief in her, Kailee was able to be free to learn on the fly without fear of a doubles partner that would become frustrated.  Kailee grew leaps and bounds as a doubles player in one day with Maisie’s tutelage.  In singles, Kailee kept rolled from her doubles win right into a quick singles win.  Maisie had a little tougher time at #3.  After dropping the first set, Maisie let some emotions show through during the set break before refocusing.  Maisie found a way to win by following rule #1 – hit the ball in.  Maisie was very patient in the next two sets, sticking to rule #1.  She attacked only when the right ball was there.  Also – when coming to the net, Maisie figured out how to finish off points!  Excellent growth today Kailee and Maisie.

Abby Redfearn played and won her first varsity match ever.  Congrats Abby!  Abby figured out her opponents weakness and continually exploited that weakness to win the points, leading to winning games, leading to winning matches.  Abby is also finding that playing patient in singles goes a long ways.

Lilly, Georgia, and Ari all had great days as well playing varsity exhibition.  Both Lilly and Ari, both seniors, played their best matches ever.  Both figured out the split-step and used it well.  Lilly really picked up on identifying neutral and defensive balls and played them appropriately.  Georgia let the match score in her first singles match get in her head a little bit leading to tentative play.  She was frustrated after that first match.  She got a second opportunity to play singles and took advantage by playing looser and hitting the ball with confidence no matter the score.  Experience doesn’t make someone better unless you learn from it – as Georgia did.

Next action is Thursday at Fargo North at 4pm.  The varsity is at Elephant Park while the JV is at the high school.

Junior Varsity Match Records:

Eldridge, Jerrica	2-0
Nelson, Trinity	2-0
Orner, Faith	2-0
Reisnour, Amanda	3-0
Urbano, Chelsea	2-1
Huffstutler, Savannah	3-0
Olson, Ella	2-0
Thomsen, Alyssa	2-1
Gehlhoff, Mel	2-0
Hanson, Naomi	2-0
Stearns, Laney	2-0
Swenson, Kylee	2-0
Trzpuc, Madison	2-0
Thiel, Sophia	1-1
Thomsen, Chesney	2-0

JV Coaches Comments:

Chelsea and Savannah work really well together and grow on the court together. Savannah is aggressive at the net and moves into the ball.  Amanda, a junior, played well and mentored a new 7^th grader Mel on the court leading to a win.  Madison and Naomi (and everyone!) have improved a ton since the first day of practice.  The JV is starting to use tactics in the matches like putting the ball away from their opponents and also reflecting after a point to learn for the next points.  All the JV get along so well which makes it fun at practice and fun supporting each other at matches.  We are proud of all of you for your character on and off the court.   Coach Sara Aberle