Injuries hamper Bemidji tennis at Hibbing Invitational
HIBBING – Bemidji finished third at Saturday’s invitational here and, were it not for some injuries, the Lumberjacks could have climbed even higher.
“I was very pleased with our overall performance,” said BHS coach Mark Fodness. “This is a very competitive tournament with Stillwater, Eveleth and Virgina being ranked teams.
“We played some of our best tennis of the season and if we could have done so more consistently we would have done even better,” the coach continued. “We also had to pull Claudia Bellew from third singles and Kenzie Schultz from fourth singles because of injuries.”
Bellew was able to finish her first match and Schultz her second but neither was at full strength and eventually had to withdraw.
Nicollette Roy replaced Schultz and Sarah McNallan took over for Bellew.
“We received good efforts from Sarah and Nicollette,” Fodness said.
The Lumberjacks did have one division champion as Claire Baumgartner and Jenna Lee claimed third doubles, posting three straight-set victories.
Jessica Solberg was third at first singles while Amy Frosaker captured the consolation crown at second singles and the team of Megan Serratore and Alexis Konecne placed second.
“Claire and Jenna put together by far their best performance of the year and we’re really excited to see them playing at this level,” Fodness said.
The Lumberjacks return to action Tuesday when they host Detroit Lakes and Crookston.
Hibbing Invitational
Stillwater 27, Eveleth 23, Bemidji 16, Grand Rapids 16, Totino Grace 14, Virginia 13, Hibbing 12, Duluth East 12
Bemidji’s Results
First Singles
Solberg (Bem) def. Ridgeway (GRG) 6-0, 6-2; Phippen (ST) def. Solberg 6-1, 3-6, 6-4; Solberg def. Kampatich (Hibbing) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
Second Singles
Sietz (VA) def. Frosaker 6-4, 6-4; Frosaker def. Stamphar (GRG) 6-1, 6-1; Frosaker def. Koes (Totino Grace) 6-3, 6-1
Third Singles
Berry (DE) def. Bellew (Bem) 6-4, 6-4; McNallen (Bem) def. Franklin (TG) 6-4, 1-6, 6-1; Virant (Virginia) def. McNallen 6-3, 7-5
Fourth Singles
Schultz (Bem) def. Hodge (Hib) 6-1, 6-1; Ellingson (ST) def. Schultz 4-6, 7-5, 6-2; Wagner (GR) def. Roy (Bem) 7-5, 0-6, 6-4
First Doubles
Demming and Johnson (ST) def. Johnson and Dickinson (Bem) 6-3, 6-2; Dickinson and Johnson def. Heer and Grace (DE) 6-4, 6-2; Gohee and Janc (Totino) def. Dickinson and Johnson 6-1, 0-6, 6-1
Second Doubles
Konecne and Serratore (Bem) def. Benson and Maroste (Eveleth) 6-1, 6-3; Konecne and Serratore def. Armstronand Bryanne (DE) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4; Ahrendt and Quin (Stillwater) def. Konecne and Serratore 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Third Doubles
Baumgartner and Lee (Bem) def. Noren and Poirier (TG) 6-2, 6-1; Baumgartner and Lee def. Ellington and Williams 6-2, 6-4; Baumgartner and Lee def. Linder and Korbitz (GR) 6-1, 6-1
