The Section 8A Girls Tennis Championship match was a battle of two top-10 ranked teams and the quality of tennis was outstanding as the #9 Crookston Pirates lost to the #8 Staples-Motley Cardinals 4-3 in a match played at Courts Plus in Fargo, North Dakota. “I am proud of how the girls did in all seven spots today,” said Pirate Coach Cody Brekken. “They played great matches against a very good opponent and they left everything out on the court and that is all we can ask for. I was so proud of how the girls played today.”
Coming into the match, Crookston knew winning the first and second singles matches and that proved to be true as Staples-Motley won both of them. The first match completed was at second singles as Crookston’s Brekken Tull battled, but came up short in a 6-1, 6-1 loss.
The Cardinals won the battle of two ranked players. #10 ranked Halle Winjum vs #4 ranked Lauren Rutten. Rutten came out strong and won the first set 6-0, but Winjum battled in the second set but came up short losing 6-3. The win for Rutten was the 100th victory of the junior’s career. “The two from Staples-Motley only had two losses combined on the season, so they were very good players,” said Coach Brekken. “Halle and Brekken play well, but they ran into very good appointments.”
Crookston knew doubles was going to be their strength and needed to sweep all three of the matches for a chance to go back to state. The first doubles team of Halle Bruggeman and Emma Gunderson won a good battle 6-3 in the first set and played even better in the second set and coasted to a 6-1 victory to bring the Pirates within a 2-1 deficit with four extremely close matches remaining. “We matched up well against them,” said Coach Brekken. “Halle and Emma played a great match and took care of business.”
Crookston also won the second doubles match with Morgan Nelson and Isabelle Smith cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 victory to tie the match at 2-2. “Our depth really shows, especially at third doubles,” said Coach Brekken. “They came out strong and took care of business and that was nice to see.”
At about the same time, Staples-Motley won the fourth singles match 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 and within minutes, Crookston won the third doubles match with Kaylie Clauson and Addie Fee trailing early in the first set, but the duo settled in and won 6-4, 6-2 and the match was tied at 3-3 with the only match remaining was third singles. “They started a little slow, but they have found their niche playing together in the second half of the season,” said Coach Brekken. “They played a solid match and looked good out there today.”
At third singles, Crookston had a senior, Abby Borowicz taking on a senior from Staples-Motley, Georgia Kruchten. Borowicz won the first set 7-5 and Kruchten won the second set 6-2. The two were tied at one to start the third and deciding set. Borowicz continued to battle and took a 3-2 lead. The next point took almost 30-minutes and Kruchten tied the set at 3-3. Borowicz started the next point with a service ace, which was followed by a long volley point. Abby continued her solid play as she won the next point to take a 40-love lead. After several shots back and forth, Abby had an overhand smash at the net to win the point and take a 4-3 lead. After a short break and a change of courts, the players returned to the court Kruchten responded to win the point and tied the set at 4-4. Abby had the serve back and hit a nice shot that was returned, but she hammered the return shot for the point for a 15-love lead. Abby won the next point after another nice return for a 30-love lead. She took a 40-love lead with another impressive return. Kruchten battled back to win the next two to get within a 40-30 deficit, but Borowicz blasted another serve for an ace and took a 5-4 lead, only needing to win one more game to go to state. Kruchten took a 15-love lead, but Abby responded with a nice shot down the sideline before winning another point going down the opposite sideline to take a 30-15 lead. Kruchten won the next point and would win the game to tie the set at 5-5. Borowicz had the serve back and after losing the first point, she won the next two for a 30-15 lead. Kruchten tied the game at 30. Borowicz won the next point with another overhand smash at the net and had a tremendous hustle point tracking down a ball and returning it right before it hit the ground and she took a 6-5 lead with another side change and break. Kruchten won the next game after they went to deuce to tie the set at 6-6, forcing a tiebreaker.
Kruchten won the first point, but Borowicz won the next and it was tied at 1-1. Abby won the next point to take a 2-1 lead. Kruchten won the next five points to take a 6-2 lead. Abby battled back to win the three points to get within a 6-5 deficit and she was serving again. After a long volley, Kruchten won the point to win a three-hour and 15-minute match. The final score was Kruchten winning 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). “That was a great match with over 100 people watching you play and Abby played a great match,” said Coach Brekken. “She literally left everything out on the court and I don’t know if she could have played any better. Both players had an outstanding match and it was too bad somebody had to lose because they both deserved a win the way they played.”
Crookston wraps up another outstanding season with a record of 16-4-1 with all four losses coming to ranked teams. “It was a great year this year and I am super proud of how the girls played,” said Coach Brekken. “I could have asked for a better group of girls and competitors. They improved all season long and we had an awesome year.”
Crookston says goodbye to the following seniors – Halle Bruggeman, Abby Borowicz, Ella Kiel, Macy Fee, Lilly Groven, and Jenna Seaver.
