VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The final score didn’t tell the full story Friday as the Valley City Hi-Liners dropped an 8-1 decision to Minot in Eastern Dakota Conference boys’ tennis action.

“Tennis is a sport where the final score may not be indicative of the competitiveness of the match. Today, that was 100% true,” Hi-Liners coach Matt Nielson said. “We were right there in several matches, and with a couple of points swinging our way, it could have been 6-3—or even a 5-4 win.”

The Hi-Liners dropped two doubles matches and a pair of singles contests in super tiebreakers, and saw another singles match slip away in a pair of tight sets.

Valley City’s lone win came from sophomore Noah Tulp, who improved to 5-0 on the season in singles play with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Henrik Evanoff at the No. 4 spot. “Keeping the ball in play is huge in high school tennis and that is what Noah does,” Nielson said. “He continues to be steady and undefeated for us.”

At No. 2 singles, junior Cole Haugen nearly added another victory for the Hi-Liners. Haugen raced out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set against Oliver Thompson but fell short in the tiebreaker before dropping a 7-5 second set. Haugen and Connor Liebersbach also moved up to No. 1 doubles in the absence of senior Kellen Westman and battled in a 6-3, 6-3 loss.

Freshman Connor Liebersbach pushed his match at No. 5 singles to three sets before falling 6-2, 4-6, 10-2. Sophomore Quin Kruger and Tulp paired at No. 2 doubles and rallied from a first-set loss to force a super tiebreaker before falling 10-3.

Eighth-grader Gray Kasowski made his varsity singles debut at No. 6 and showed fight in a 6-2, 6-1 loss. “Gray was a little flustered, but he fought through it,” Nielson said. “These experiences are invaluable for our underclassmen as they’ll be stepping into varsity roles soon.”

Nielson credited his lineup for showing growth and effort despite the loss. “We’re close,” he said. “This just shows how near we are to becoming a really good team.”

Valley City’s junior varsity continued to impress, sweeping doubles and winning four of six singles matches. Seventh-graders Brody and Lane earned their first wins in a full 3-6 lineup, winning both doubles and singles without dropping a set.

The Hi-Liners now turn to a busy week ahead, beginning Monday with a home make-up match against Grand Forks Central. They will then play at West Fargo on Tuesday, at Grand Forks Red River on Thursday, host Minot North and Mandan on Friday morning, and close the week at the Sheyenne Invite on Saturday.

Results
Minot 8, Valley City 1

Singles

1. Nolan Moore, Min, def. Quin Kruger, 6-0, 6-0.

2. Oliver Thompson, Min, def. Cole Haugen, 7-6(0), 7-5.

3. Connor Ressler, Min, def. Colin Hoff, 6-2, 6-2.

4. Noah Tulp, VC, def. Henrik Evanoff, 6-4, 7-5.

5. Tyson Barden, Min, def. Connor Liebersbach, 6-2, 4-6, 10-2.

6. Aiden Bye, Min, def. Gray Kasowski, 6-2, 6-1.

Doubles

1. Moore/Thompson, Min, def. Haugen/Liebersbach, 6-3, 6-3.

2. Ressler/Evanoff, Min, def. Kruger/Tulp, 6-1, 2-6, 10-3.

3. Barden/Bye, Min, def. Hoff/Matthew Holm, 6-1, 4-6, 10-7.