BEMIDJI - The Bemidji High tennis team got its first taste of action Thursday, traveling to Crookston to push the Pirates to the hilt before falling 4-3.
Bemidji had been outdoors only twice all spring. Crookston had spent the past two weeks outside.
The young Jacks took three of the four singles matches.
But the Pirates concentrated their top players in doubles and got the sweep they needed to win.
The final match at No. 3 went to a third set before the home team prevailed.
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Crookston won in straight sets at No. 1 singles.
But Ben Holter, Ryan Rude and Adam Holter did likewise at 2-3-4, Adam Holter needing a tiebreaker in the first set to prevail 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.
Crookston took the No. 1 and 2 doubles in straight sets.
The Jacks lost the opening set at No. 3 before taking the second 6-2.
But Crookston took the deciding set 6-3 to cement the win.
Bemidji won the JV match 3-2, all doubles matches.
The Jacks open their home season Thursday with East Grand Forks and host Brainerd the following day.
"For an opening match, I thought we played well," said Coach Scott Engelstad. "The weather was anything but pleasant with cold, windy conditions. We hope for warmer days next week."
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CROOKSTON 4, BEMIDJI 3
Singles
Jake Thompson, Ckn .defeated Sam Weaver 6-1, 6-1
Ben Holter, Bem. defeated Josh Prudhomme 6-2, 6-0
Ryan Rude, Bem. defeated Ryan Erickson 6-0, 6-1
Adam Holter, Bem. defeated Josh Mercil 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
Doubles
Luke Biermaier and Carter Denison, Ckn. defeated Aaron Johnson and Matt Lee 6-3, 6-1
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Nick Biermaier and Wade Johnston, Ckn. defeated Steve Bucher and Wes Rogers 6-1, 6-1
Alex Prudhomme and Brandon Luczewski, Ckn. defeated Ben Kloha and Josh Pierce 7-5 (9-7), 2-6, 6-3
JV MATCH
BEMIDJI 3, CROOKSTON 2
Zach Mercil and Tyler Hviding, Ckn. defeated Lucas Landgrebe and Tyler Wentzel 6-3, 6-3
Mike Rude and Adam Eickhorst, Bem. defeated Morgan Terpstra and Jared Johnson 7-5, 6-2
Jon Carpenter and Bennett Goodman-Erickson, Bem. defeated Ben Dufault and Josh Bengston 10-7
Levi Rickert and Justin Byers, Bem. defeated Cooper Goering and Noah Fagerlund 10-4
Goering and Fagerlund, Ckn. defeated Byers and Joey Good 8-7
