The Crookston Pirate Girls Tennis team knew they were going to have a tight battle with St. James, and it proved to be just that, as St. James beat the Pirates 4-3 in the first round of the Minnesota State Class A Girls Tennis tournament at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis. In the Consolation semi-finals, Crookston beat Luverne 6-1 to advance to the Consolation Championship on Wednesday at NOON against Providence Academy in Plymouth!
CROOKSTON vs ST. JAMES
The teams started the match by splitting the first four matches. St. James won the first singles match 6-1, 6-2 and Crookston’s Isabelle Smith won the second singles match 6-1, 6-2. “Isa played a very strong match at two singles,” said Crookston head coach Gina Gunderson, “she started strong from the opening serve and continued it for a quick win.”
The teams also split the first and second doubles matches as Crookston’s Emma Gunderson and Kaylie Clauson rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 victory while the second doubles team lost 6-2, 6-4 and the team score was 2-2. “Emma and Kaylie also played very well in their doubles match said coach and mom, Gina Gunderson, “we were even and liked where we were.”
St. James then won the third doubles and were leading 3-2 with the number three singles and number four singles still left and both competitive. The number four singles finished first, and the Pirates Paige Abrahamson was close, losing a tough 7-5 set and then ended up with another close loss 6-4, and St. James clinched the match. In the third singles, Addie Fee has a tough three-set match, leading 3-0 in the first set, Fee ended up losing 6-3, but rallied for a 6-2 win to force a third set, with Fee winning 6-4 to win the three singles, but St. James seed number four defeated the Pirates 4-3 to advance to the semi’s while the Pirates drop the consolation round and will play Luverne who were a 7-0 loser to the tournament’s number one seed, Rochester Lourdes. “We played a good match,” said Coach Gunderson, “Paige and Addie were left, and Paige played a good match, while Addie had a great comeback win. We were a little short, but now turn our attention to Luverne at 4:00 PM and we really want to get that win to play in the consolation championship tomorrow afternoon.
Crookston drops to 16-6 on the year and will play Luverne in the consolation semi-finals at 4:00 p.m. If Crookston wins the match, they will play at Noon in the consolation championship. If Crookston loses the match, they are eliminated.
St. James improves to 16-3 on the year and will play #1 ranked Rochester Lourdes in the semi-finals tomorrow morning.
| Crookston-3 | St. James-4 | Win | Score | |
| 1st | Brekken Tull | Keyana Haler | SJ | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2nd | Isabelle Smith | Allison Bluedorn | Crox | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 3rd | Addie Fee | Maya Kulseth | Crox | 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 4th | Paige Abrahamson | Lily Ciske | SJ | 7-5, 6-4 |
| 1st Dub |
Emma Gunderson Kaylie Clauson |
Alexis Brekken Elizabeth Shores |
Crox | 6-1, 6-0 |
| 2nd | Morgan Nelson Georgia Sanders |
Dani Trapero Mykela Hanson |
SJ | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 3rd | Ashlyn Bailey Coral Brekken |
Alivia Romsdahl Ellie Anderson |
SJ | 6-4, 6-2 |
CROOKSTON VS LUVERNE
Crookston didn’t want their season to end the first day of the tournament, so they came out in consolation match and blitzed the Luverne Cardinals 6-1 to make sure they’ll be in the final day of the Section 8A TEAM Tournament tomorrow in Minneapolis. “The girl’s really came out with purpose and first in the match with Luverne,” said head coach Gina Gunderson, “it was through the whole lineup including Brekken Tull at number one singles. With Halle Winjum out for the season with a knee injury, Brekken was moved to number one singles and although her record wasn’t what she had wanted, but she really did battle this season and really sacrificed herself for the team!” Paige Abramson won four singles in quick fashion 6-1, 6-0 to start the Pirates out. “It was good to see Paige come out like she did after her tough loss earlier today to St. James,” said coach Gunderson. Addie Fee won again at three singles and Isabelle Smith as well at two singles. “Addie and Isabelle have playing very well this season and continued that today,” said Gunderson.
Crookston would only lose eight points in doubles, all in quick two sets at number one doubles of Emma Gunderson-Kaylie Clauson, two doubles of Morgan Nelson-Georgia Sanders and three doubles of Ashlyn Bailey-Coral Brekken. “They all played wonderful and Emma and Kaylie really played well today together, “said their coach. Emma Gunderson, Kaylie Clauson, Isabelle Smith and Addie Fee all won their two matches on the day.
Crookston improves to 17-6 in duals this season and will play Providence Academy (Plymouth) at NOON tomorrow for the consolation championship. Luverne, the Section 3a champion season comes to an end.
| Crookston-6 | Luverne-1 | Win | Score | |
| 1st | Brekken Tull | Augusta Papik | Luv | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 2nd | Isabelle Smith | Sarah Stegen | Crox | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 3rd | Addie Fee | Morgan Hadler | Crox | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 4th | Paige Abrahamson | Addyson Mann | Crox | 6-1, 6-0 |
| 1st Dub |
Emma Gunderson Kaylie Clauson |
Cassi Chesley Roselynn Hartshorn |
Crox | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2nd | Morgan Nelson Georgia Sanders |
Emma Nath Corynn Oye |
Crox | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 3rd | Ashlyn Bailey Coral Brekken |
Rayann Remme Katie Jarchow |
Crox | 6-1, 6-1 |
