Jacks tennis team upsets Brainerd, advance to section semis

BRAINERD -- Talk about drama. The Bemidji tennis team had its fill in Tuesday's Section 8AA team tennis tournament at Brainerd.

The third-seeded Lumberjacks rallied from a 2-3 deficit to top second-seeded Brainerd 4-3. The Jacks won their final two matches, including a marathon three-set contests, to get into next weekend's sectional semifinals. They'll play top-seeded Becker next Tuesday in Sartell.

"It was a great day," BHS head coach Mark Fodness said. His team defeated St. Cloud Apollo 5-2 earlier Tuesday morning for the right to face Brainerd.

With Brainerd leading 3-2, Bemidji's No. 3 singles player and No. 2 doubles team each rallied to win their matches - and the meet for the Jacks.

Isak Somer lost his first set 5-7 but defeated Brainerd's Bobby Posch in three sets, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

In the No. 2 doubles match, something similar happened. Bemidji's Austin Korczak and Zach Hewitt lost their first set to Brainerd's Reno Fussy and Jared Stevens, but rallied to take the second set 7-6 (7-0).

That set up an epic third set, and Fussy and Stevens took control early, going up 4-3.

But Korczak and Hewitt won the next four games to take the match - and the meet - for Bemidji.

Look for more information in Wednesday's Pioneer.