PIRATE GIRLS TENNIS TAKES SIXTH AT INDIVIDUAL-BASED LITCHFIELD TOURNEY

The Crookston Pirate Girls Tennis team is competed in the Litchfield tournament on Saturday- an individual tournament with individuals receiving team points for every win. The tournament included, Staples-Motley, Annandale, Owatonna, St. Peter, Delano, Litchfield, and Benson. The Pirates took sixth place as a team. “It was a long day for the girls starting at about 4 am the night after homecoming and the dance and a long bus ride, day of playing, and a bus ride back, but we played really good tennis and saw some really good competition,” said Pirates Head Coach Sue Tiedemann. “It was good to see some different play styles that some of the teams use and see some top teams from different parts of the state.”

TEAM SCORES –
1. Delano – 33
2. Owatonna -23
3. Annandale – 21
T4. Litchfield- 20
T4. Staples-Motley -20
6. Crookston- 16
7. St. Peter – 15
8. Benson –  2

The tournament was filled with great teams and top talent as Crookston saw some quality competition with some varying styles of play. It was a long day for the Pirates on the court with a lot of long, hard-fought, tough matches. Six of the matches went into a third set tiebreak and many of the sets were going 10-plus games long.
At first singles, Hayden Winjum got a win on the today in three well-played matches taking seventh place. In the first match she fell in the first set before bouncing back to force a third set tiebreak that she eventually lost. “Hayden played well today and she did a nice job of winning a tough second set after falling in the first one,” said Coach Tiedemann. Hayden won her final match, losing just one game in the two sets.
Halle Winjum continued to play solid tennis winning two of her three matches and taking third place. In the first match, Halle played the ball nicely all around the court winning in two sets. “She was dissecting that girl in the first set placing the ball wherever she wanted to,” explained Coach Tiedemann. She has been playing really well for us.” She lost her second match before winning her third match as one of the last matchups out on the courts. “We were teams with some of the longer drives and we ended up being the last ones out there,” said Coach Tiedemann.
At third singles Brekken Tull got one win on the day, taking sixth place. Her first match was a closely played match that she lost 6-4, 6-4. She bounced back in her second match cruising in the first set 6-1 before earning a 7-5 second set win.
At fourth singles, Abby Borowicz and Isabelle Smith split time getting one win and taking sixth place.
The first doubles team of Emma Osborn and Emma Gunderson got one win and took two losses in very competitive matches to take fourth place. In the first match they lost just one game on their way to the win. “They made quick work of the first match today so that was great,” added Coach Tiedemann. “They played maybe their best tennis today.” They lost their second match in a tiebreak that went past the target of seven points, with the Pirates falling 9-7. “They played a really long tiebreak and they battled in a matchup with really good players and I think they were state participants at one point. And even in their third match they worked hard in the first set, but didn’t win it,” explained Coach Tiedemann. “They were playing well and using some shots they’ve been working on so that was good.”
In second doubles, Halle Bruggeman and Kaylie Clauson won their first match and lost their next two on their way to a fourth place finish. After a well-played first match victory, they lost their next two matches in third-set tiebreakers.
Third doubles, which included Hannah Lindemoen, Morgan Nelson, and Addie Fee, winning their first two matches and losing their third match to take second place. The first set was a close two-set victory with Lindemoen and Nelson. In the second match with Lindemoen and Fee, the Pirates lost just one game. “Third doubles played really well, and it was really competitive,” said Coach Tiedemann. It doesn’t matter who we put with Hannah they are always going to have a chance to win.” Looking for a first place finish, lost in a long 6-4, 7-5 match. “I wasn’t down there at that point, but Coach Pat Janorschke said that the girls played outstanding,” added Coach Tiedemann.

After the long day, the girls will rest up and get back onto the courts on Tuesday when they host the NW Quadrangular starting at 10 am.