Bemidji overcomes injuries to sweep triangular

BEMIDJI – The injury bug has hit the Bemidji girls tennis team and Tuesday in a triangular against Detroit Lakes and Crookston the Lumberjacks were forced to play without three varsity regulars.

Claudia singles, who is the customary third singles player, is nursing a pulled hamstring while fourth singles player Kenzie Schultz is recovering from a back ailment.

Joining the list of wounded Tuesday was No. 1 singles player Jessica Solberg who injured her shoulder during her match against Katie Anderson of Detroit Lakes and was forced to withdraw.

Despite the injuries the Lumberjacks remained unbeaten in dual action, improving to 7-0 after stopping Detroit Lakes 5-2 and Crookston 6-1.

“It’s frustrating to have to deal with this many injuries but it simply means that players have to step up and do their jobs,” said BHS coach Mark Fodness. “It was great to see the girls take a hold of that challenge and perform very well.”

Bemidji began its day against Detroit Lakes and seemed to have everything well in hand until Solberg was forced to forefeit while she was leading 5-2 in her first set.

Her teammates picked up the slack, however, winning five of the remaining six matches.

Amy Frosaker set the pace with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at second singles and Nicolette Roy posted a 6-2, 6-3 triumph at fourth.

Bemidji also swept the doubles action. Annika Johnosn and Olivia Dickinson teamed for a 6-1, 6-3 victory, Alexis Konecne and Megan Serratore blanked their opponents 6-0, 6-0 and Lexy Wood and Erin Edlund won 6-1, 6-3 at third doubles.

McKayla Beaulieu fell 6-2, 6-3 at third singles.

Frosaker moved up to first singles in the Crookston match and collected a 6-3, 6-4 triumph.

Kenzie Schultz followed suit with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at second singles while Konecne posted a 6-0, 6-1 win at third and Serratore a 6-3, 6-3 triumph at fourth.

Johnson and Dickinson prevailed 6-2, 6-3 while Jenna Lee and Claire Baumgartner teamed for a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles.

Falling 6-2, 6-3 was Bemidji’s third doubles tandem of Sarah McNallan and Roy.

“Crookston has a strong squad and always shows up ready to play,” Fodness said. “But we were determined not to lose this match, especially because it was our last home performance of the year.

“It is great to see players who can overcome adversity and be flexible enough to switch from doubles to singles and do whatever is necessary to get the team a point,” the coach added. “This type of performance will make us even stronger once our injured players return to the courts.”

Bemidji 5, Detroit Lakes 2

Singles

Anderson (DL) def. Solberg by injury default (Solberg led 5-2 at the time)

Frosaker (B) def. Kinney 6-1, 6-2

Unruh (DL) def. Beaulieu 6-1, 6-2

Roy (B) def. Maguire 6-2, 6-3

Doubles

Johnson and Dickinson (B) def. Fritz and Seebold 6-1, 6-3

Konecne and Serratore (B) def. Kluenenberg and Benscoter 6-0, 6-0

Wood and Edlund (B) def. Steger and Bunnis 6-1, 6-3

Bemidji 6, Crookston 1

Singles

Frosaker (B) def. Simmons 6-3, 6-4

Schultz (B) def. Trostad 6-3, 6-3

Konecne (B) def. Lindmed 6-0, 6-1

Serratore (B) def. Tiedemann 6-3, 6-3

Doubles

Johnson and Dickinson (B) def. Dennison and Awender 6-2, 6-3

Lee and Baumgartner (B) def. Trostad and Demerais 6-2, 6-2

T.Demerais and Maki (C) def. McNallan and Roy 6-2, 6-3