S-M wins Litchfield title

LITCHFIELD -- Jacque Peterson, Abby Edin and the No. 3 doubles team of Kristie Halverson/Sheila Noska won titles for Staples-Motley and the Cardinals won the Litchfield tennis tournament Saturday.

S-M's No. 2 doubles team of Amanda DiGiovanni-Kim Mosack placed second.

All 10 Cardinals placed in the top five, including two consolation titles.

Entering the meet, Crookston was ranked fourth in Class 1A, Pine City No. 7 and S-M No. 9.

"This was another great test of our season progress, and we did an exceptional job of stepping up in some very difficult matches," Cardinals assistant coach Sarah Larson said. "Our goal remains the postseason, and playing top competition is the best way to prepare."

Lindsey Erickson of Pine City, who was defeated by Peterson in the semifinals, is ranked fifth in 1A. Peterson is No. 6.

"Jacque continues to show why she is one of the better players in 1A," Larson said. "I know that her leadership is contributing in a big way to the strong showings by our younger players, especially (Saturday)."

Record-wise, Peterson is 20-2, Katie Edin 17-5, Amy Freeman 14-8 and Abby Edin 11-1.

Team scores -- 1-Staples-Motley 30, 2-Crookston 25, 3-Owatonna 24, 4-Litchfield 21, 5-Pine City 20, 6-St. Peter 12, 7-Yellow Medicine East 11, 8-Fergus Falls 4

Singles

No. 1 -- Jacque Peterson (SM) def. Autumn Engstrom (Owa) 6-2, 6-2; def. Lindsey Erickson (PC) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2); def. Mollie Miller (Lit) 6-4, 6-2

No. 2 -- Katie Edin , fifth; lost to Melissa Rasmusson (YME) 6-2, 3-6, 6-10; def. Megan Conlon (StP) 6-4, 6-1; def. Lexie Moon (FF) 6-2, 6-2

No. 3 -- Amy Freeman, fourth; def. Alexa Stevens (PC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3; lost to Ame Borgert-Poepping (Owa) 3-6, 2-6; lost to Michelle Miller (YME) 2-6, 3-6

No. 4 -- Abby Edin def. Beth Nimmo (StP) 6-4, 6-2; def. Claudia Trotzke (Crook) 6-3, 6-2; def. Katie Baldwin (Owa) 6-1, 7-5

Doubles

No. 1 -- Amanda DiGiovanni-Kim Mosack, second, def. Sarah Barsness/Ashley Bremseth (FF) 6-2, 6-0; def. Beth Christensen/Siri Hyland (Owa) 6-3, 6-4; lost to Amy Myrold/Amanda Schlenker (Crook) 6-0, 6-1

No. 2 -- Becca Nordell-Machele Michels, fifth; lost to Laura Haugo/Ashley Krug (Lit) 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-12; def. Heidi Helland/Becca Johnson (FF) 6-4, 6-0; def. Katie Kruger/Katie Volk (StP) 6-3, 6-1

No. 3 -- Kristie Halverson-Sheila Noska def. Janae Coauette/Ericka Erdman (Crook) 6-3, 6-3; def. Christine Wagner/Beth Branzovsky (PC) 6-1, 7-5; def. Sara Binsfeld/Jill Stiegen (Lit) 6-2, 6-2

Conference -- SM 5-0. Overall -- SM 7-0. Next meet -- New York Mills at SM 4 p.m. Tuesday.