The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Tennis team competed at the Bemidji Triangular, where they faced off against Detroit Lakes and Bemidji. The Pirates were strong in their match against Detroit Lakes, winning 6-1. It was a close battle with Bemidji, but the Lumberjacks narrowly defeated Crookston by a score of 4-3.

CROOKSTON VS DETROIT LAKES
Crookston started the day with a great showing against Detroit Lakes, winning by a score of 6-1. Anna Askelson defeated Isabelle Smith for the lone Lakers win, in a close 6-4, 6-4 battle in the 1st singles match. The other three singles matches were won by Crookston. Kaylie Clauson’s match was back-and-forth, as she won the first set 6-1, lost the second set 6-3, and found herself in a tiebreaker that went to 24 points as she escaped with the tiebreaker win 13-11. Paige Abrahamson cruised to a 3rd singles match win 6-1, 6-1 and Coral Brekken won a close first set 7-6, then pulled away in the second set 6-1 for a 4th singles victory.
The Crookston doubles pairs were even better, as they went 3-0 in the match. Emma Gunderson and Brekken Tull cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 1st doubles win. Addie Fee and Morgan Nelson won their 2nd doubles match by a score of 6-2, 6-2. Calleigh Fanfulik and Georgia Sanders closed out the match with a close 7-6, 6-3 win in 3rd doubles to punctuate the 6-1 win for Crookston over the Lakers.

CROOKSTON VS BEMIDJI
Crookston had an even tougher test in the next match as they faced Bemidji. Crookston got off to a great start with Paige Abrahamson earning her second win of the day in a 6-0, 6-0 victory in 4th singles. Bemidji evened it up as Baily Rupp beat Brekken Tull in the 2nd singles match 6-0, 6-1. Isabelle Smith bounced back after the loss in the Detroit Lakes match, as she won a close battle in 3rd singles 6-4, 6-3. Emma Gunderson had a hard fought first set 7-6, but Bemidji’s Elizabeth Peterson pulled away in the second set 6-1 for the 1st singles win.
The two teams split the singles matches meaning it was up to the doubles to break the tie. Addie Fee and Kayle Clauson had a close first set win 7-6, and they kept up the momentum in the second set as they won 6-3, giving them the 1st doubles victory. Both the 2nd and 3rd double matches were decided by tiebreaker, and it was Bemidji taking both. First it was Megan Berg and Sam Wood beating Morgan Nelson and Coral Brekken 6-1, 2-6, 10-6. Bemidji closed out the day winning the 3rd doubles match against Georgia Sanders and Calleigh Fanfulik 6-4, 2-6, 10-6, giving the Lumberjacks the 4-3 victory.

Crookston improves to 10-5 on the season and travels to Litchfield for an individual tournament.

Gina Gunderson’s post match comments:

“We started the day with a match against DL and happy with the way the girls came out and played. Paige continues to play strong, winning her matches in a timely manner.  Coral battled from behind to win her match and continues to show determination and grit. Kaylie and Isabelle both had competitive matches at 1st and 2nd Singles. All three doubles teams won and enjoyed watching Brekken Tull and Emma Gunderson play together.” 

“Our match against Bemidji was really close, battling in three matches to a third set tiebreaker, which we weren’t able to pull away with a win. Addie Fee and Kaylie Clauson played a great first doubles match winning in two sets. Again, Paige was quick to exit the court with a 6-0, 6-0 win and Isabelle came out after a long, hot first match and played with patience for the win.”