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The Luverne girls’ tennis team had a successful start to the 2022 season with a pair of victories at home on Saturday.
The Cardinals defeated the Morris Area Tigers 4-3 and Benson Braves 5-2.
LHS No. 1 doubles team of Sarah Stegenga and Katharine Kelm and the No. 2 doubles team of Cassi Chesley and Roselynn Hartshorn were both undefeated with 2-0 records.
Priscilla Muehr and Morgan Hadler each won 1 singles and 1 doubles match to finish the day 2-0.
“It was great to get the season started with two wins,” said Luverne head coach Jon Beers.
“We have many girls who don't have much varsity experience playing, and this was a nice way for them to start the season.”
Luverne returned to action Tuesday on the road with matches against Yellow Medicine East and MACCRAY and will play at home Thursday against Lac Qui Parle Valley and Montevideo.
Luverne 4, Morris Area 3
Hadler was the lone singles player to get a win against Morris Area, defeating Liz Pillard 6-3, 6-2.
At No. 1 singles, Luverne’s Rayann Remme lost 6-1, 6-2 to Claire Stark. No. 2 singles Chloe Schoeneman lost to Chloe Zimme 6-4, 6-1.
Luverne’s Ella Lanoue lost 6-3, 6-2 to Izzy Hofffman at No. 4 singles.
Stegenga and Kelm defeated Karlie Bruns and Ashley Koehl 6-0, 6-4 at No.1 doubles.
Luverne’s Chesley and Hartshorn defeated Nora Meek and Lydia Fynbon 6-1,6-2 in No. 2 doubles. At No. 3 doubles, Tori Hemme and Priscilla Muehr from Luverne defeated Ellen Reed and Grace Hauglie 6-1, 6-1.
Luverne 4, Benson 3
In the Benson match, Luverne was again undefeated in doubles play.
“All of the doubles teams played great in both matches,” Beers said.
“We will be using different teams to start the season, and I was really happy with how all the doubles teams played on Saturday.”
Stegenga and Kelm won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles over Kya Oakes and Milgo Abdi, and the No. 2 team of Chesley and Hartshorn beat Megan Anders and Alana Hettver 6-2, 6-2.
The No. 3 team of Chloe Schoeneman and Hadler defeated Arianna Nagler and Ella McGinty 6-3, 6-2.
Luverne won two of the four singles matches against Benson.
At No. 3 singles, Muehr defeated Molly Jones 6-0, 6-1. Caitlin Kindt, who was playing in her first varsity match, defeated Addie Detoy 4-6, 6-1, 10-8.
“Caitlin played a great match,” Beers said. “She lost the first set but was able to win the second set and force a third set tie-breaker, which she won 10-8 for her first varsity victory.”
At No. 1 singles, Remme lost to Elle Kletscher 6-3, 6-2, and Hemme was defeated by Elise Duncan 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.