Park Rapids ends NY Mills tennis season

By Robert Williams

October 19, 2010 at 7:23 AM

The Park Rapids Panthers swept all seven matches in the first round of Section 8A tennis tournament play ending the Eagles season.

"We knew the Panthers would be very tough to beat. All our girls played with great effort, knowing this might be the last team match of the season for them."

The one-doubles team of Lauren Bach and Missy Hendrickx played very close games with the number-one ranked doubles team in the section. In tennis, matches can be much closer than they appear as scores and this was the case in this match.

"We only took three games in the match, but almost all the games went to at least one deuce and often several before they were over. Our second doubles team played a pretty competitive second set in their match too."

Jen Maki and Krista Guldseth dropped their two-doubles match in straight sets one and three to Karly Dickinson and Allison Girtz.

Park Rapids was defeated in the finals 5-0 by Section 8A champions Roseau. The remaining two matches were suspended to preserve court time for the individual tournament.

Hendrickx and Bach did find success in the individual portion of the Section tournament with a victory in first round play. The duo split the first two sets 6-2, 3-6 before prevailing 6-3 in the third. Eventual Section 8A Doubles Champions Alyssa Carlson and Christina Smith, of Park Rapids, put an end to Bach and Hendrickx's season in straight sets one and one in quarterfinal action.

"All our girls played hard against formidable opponents. It was great to see Lauren and Missy win the first match. It was a very enjoyable season coaching these players. We will miss our seniors"

The Lady Eagles Awards Banquet will be held at Eagle's Cafe in New York Mills on Monday, October 25 at 6 p.m. for players, coaches and their families.

Other section qualifiers for NY Mills were Jenna Esala and Kristin Kane the 10 and 14 seeds in singles play and Jen Maki and Krista Guldseth qualified in doubles as the 14 seed.

Tennis results

NY Mills vs Park Rapds, Monday, October 11.

Panthers 7, Eagles 0

Singles:

1. Bailey LaCoursiere-PR over Jenna Esala-NYM 6-0 6-0;

2. Julia Renner-PR over Vicky Selander-NYM 6-0 6-1;

3. Lydia Schaum-PR over Kristin Kane-NYM 6-1 6-2;

4. Heidi Schaum-PR over Abby Salo-NYM 6-1 6-1;

Doubles:

1. Alyssa Carlson/ Christiana Smith-PR over Lauren Bach/Missy Hendrickx-NYM 6-1 6-2;

2. Karly Dickinson/Allison Girtz-PR over Jen Maki/Krista Guldseth-NYM 6-1 6-3;

3. Bonnie Baumgatner/ Alexis Burlingame-PR over Jordin Roberts/Megan Dow-NYM 6-0 6-0;