VALLEY CITY, N.D. — The Valley City Hi-Liners boys tennis team capped a busy week with some of their strongest play of the season, earning several first varsity victories and showcasing depth across the lineup at the Sheyenne Invite on Saturday.
The Hi-Liners played five matches in six days, including Eastern Dakota Conference contests Monday through Thursday, two non-conference duals Friday and the Sheyenne Invite to close out the week. Coach Matt Nielson said the stretch tested his players physically and mentally but also revealed progress.
“What a week of tennis,” Nielson said. “We had our best day of the year with effort, attitudes, sportsmanship and having fun on the court. That resulted in wins all over the board.”
In Friday’s home matches, Valley City dropped a 4-1 decision to Minot North before falling 5-0 to Mandan. The lone victory came at No. 2 doubles, where Colin Hoff and Noah Tulp rallied for a 7-5, 6-0 win.
Nielson said the team experimented with new doubles combinations that could be used in the postseason. “Connor and Matthew showed promise as a team that could work, and Quin and Kellen even took a set off one of the top three players in the state in Christen,” he said.
Valley City rebounded Saturday with multiple first-time winners at the Sheyenne Invite. Lane earned his first varsity victory after narrowly missing a comeback in his opening match. Jon paired with Matthew to win his first two varsity doubles matches. Beck, Gray and Andrew all picked up their first varsity singles wins, with Andrew claiming the consolation championship at No. 4 singles.
“Andrew played loose, taking both his forehand and backhand strokes in rhythm with good topspin, consistency and placement,” Nielson said. “He took coaching and enacted it on the next changeover. Recognizing when to hit a neutral or defensive ball rather than smack it was key in the fifth-place match.”
At No. 3 singles, Gray won three matches by adjusting his defensive game and extending rallies. “He competes for every point and believes he can win every point,” Nielson said.
In doubles, Quin Kruger and Kellen Westman had one of the most dramatic days, winning three matches at No. 1, including two super tiebreakers. Against Mandan, the pair rallied from deficits of 5-3 in the first set and 1-5 in the super to pull off the comeback.
“These two are thinking of playing doubles together in the individual region tournament, so to be able to play five matches in one day will help them better prepare,” Nielson said.
The coach credited senior leaders Colin, Connor and Matthew for guiding the group with actions more than words. “Not all leaders are the boisterous, outspoken person who wants to be the center of attention,” Nielson said. “Some leaders do the right thing when no one is looking. Having amazing leaders — boisterous and subtle — along with an entire team of high-character young men makes coaching so rewarding and fun.”
Valley City continues its regular season this week with an EDC road match Tuesday at Sheyenne before hosting Wahpeton on Thursday.
Results: Sheyenne Invite
#1 Doubles: Quin Kruger & Kellen Westman
Rd1: Defeated Balvitch/Kirkeby (FS) 6-2, 6-2
Rd2: Lost to Panwalker/Burris (FN) 6-3, 6-2
Cons Rd1: Defeated DeRosier/Birdine (Man) 7-6(7), 3-6, 10-6
Cons Qtrs: Defeated Mullally/Satrom (BC) 6-3, 4-6, 10-6
Cons Semis: Lost to Madison/Spooner (BL) 6-4, 7-5
#2 Doubles: Colin Hoff & Connor Liebersbach
Rd1: Defeated Anfinson/Bratlien (Wil) 6-4, 6-4
Rd2: Lost to Bikic/Johnson (WFS) 6-4, 6-3
Cons Qtrs: Lost to Sundahl/Bardon (Min) 4-6, 6-2, 10-7
#3 Doubles: Matthew Holm & Jon Koenig
Rd1: Defeated Roepke/Ali (JT) 3-6, 6-4, 10-5
Rd2: Lost to Lawler/Heick (WFS) 6-4, 6-3
Cons Qtrs: Defeated Scholand/Reisenauer (WF) 6-3, 6-4
Cons Semis: Lost to Eickman/Kuenzel (GFRR) 3-6, 6-4 10-6
#1 Singles: Cole Haugen
Rd1: Lost to Christen (Man) 6-2, 6-3
Cons Rd1: Lost to Griffith (MN) 6-3, 6-2
#2 Singles: Emery Olson
Rd1: Lost to Kleser (BH)
Cons Rd1: Lost to Andrist (BC)
#3 Singles: Gray Kasowski
Rd1: Defeated Deyle (WF)
Rd2: Lost to Carson (WFS) 6-2, 6-2
Cons Rd1: Defeated Delorme (Wil)
Cons Qtrs: Defeated Blikre (MN)
Cons Semis: Lost to Schultz (FS)
#4 Singles: Andrew Hoff
Rd1: Defeated Thomas (Wil) 6-2, 6-2
Rd2: Defeated Sayler (Man) 6-3, 7-5
Qtrs: Lost to Kalb (BL) 7-6(1), 6-3
Cons Qtrs: Defeated Anderson (Shan)
Cons Semis: Defeated Youngquist (FS) 6-3, 6-4
Cons Finals: Defeated Bye (Min) 6-3, 6-4
#5 Singles: Beck Dietrich
Rd1: Defeated Barnich (JT) 6-2, 6-3
Qtrs: Lost to Schwengler (FS) 6-4, 4-6, 10-4
Cons Qtrs: Lost to McDonald (GFRR) 6-3, 6-2
#6 Singles: Lane Nielson
Rd1: Lost to Bellsolell (BL) 6-4, 4-6, 12-10
Cons Rd1: Defeated Paiement (JT) 6-3, 6-2
Cons RD2: Lost to Dunlop (BC) 6-4, 6-4
Results: Valley City Listed First
Valley City: 1
Minot North: 4
1S. Haugen lost to C.Griffith 6-2, 6-3
2S. Kruger lost to Callahan 6-2, 6-2
3S. Liebersbach lost to Blikre 7-6(4), 6-0
1D. Westman/Holm to Vigested/L.Griffith 6-3, 6-3
2D. Hoff/Noah Tulp defeated Opp/Fry 7-5, 6-0
Valley City: 0
Mandan: 5
1S. Haugen lost to M.Christen 6-3, 6-3
2S. Hoff lost to Wollschlager 6-4, 7-6(2)
3S. Tulp lost to Sayler 6-2, 6-1
1D. Westman/Kruger lost to J.Christen/Kleinknecht 6-2, 2-6, 10-7
2D. Liebersbach/Holm lost to DeRosier/Birdine 6-4, 6-3