Four Warriors head to sections

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Kayla Huether secured the North Subsection 8-2A individual singles title Thursday and three other Brainerd Warrior tennis players advanced to next week's Section 8-2A individual tournament.

Huether won the singles title by injury default as Bemidji's Nicole Christenson withdrew because of illness. Huether defeated Stephanie Schultz of Fergus Falls and Jamie Hoffman of Bemidji to advance to the championship match.

Teammate Taylor Headlee finished fourth and will also advance to the section singles tournament. Headlee lost to Bemidji's Jamie Hoffman 6-0, 6-4 in the third-place match.

"Kayla and Taylor had wonderful days," said Whalen. "With Taylor we saw some jitters, but for a sophomore she played with savvy and stayed focused. Kayla is just playing so strong right now."

The top four singles players and top four doubles teams advance to sections. That means the Brainerd team of Catherine Luckemeyer-Zoe Houle will also play in the section as they finished fourth, losing to Bemidji's Rachel Imsande-Kelly Christenson 6-1, 6-4 for third place.

"They kind of struggled at the Central Lakes Conference meet, but they won the consolation title," Whalen said of Luckemeyer and Houle. "We've had our ups and downs at No. 1 but they just absolutely came alive and did so well against Alexandria (Wednesday).

"They came out a little tired and flat today, but it was fun to see that even in that state we could get ourselves into the top four. They weren't the same team today they were (Wednesday). I think the emotions and physical drain showed today. I hope the weekend will perk them up."

Section 8-2A individual tournament

Singles

Championship

Kayla Huether (Brd) def. Nicole Christenson (Bem) injury

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Third-place match

Jamie Hoffman (Bem) def. Taylor Headlee (Brd) 6-0, 6-4

Semifinals

Huether def. Hoffman (Bem) 6-3, 6-3

Christenson (Bem) def. Headlee 6-1, 7-5

Quarterfinals

Huether def. Stephanie Schultz (FF) 6-0, 6-0

Headlee def. Emma Hughey (Moor) 6-4, 7-5

Opening round

Huether bye

Headlee def. Sam Koester (LF) 6-2, 6-0

Jenna Miller (Moor) def. Jenae Anderson (LF) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles

Third-place match

Rachel Imsande-Kelly Christenson (Bem) def. Catherine Luckemeyer-Zoe Houle (Brd) 6-1, 6-4

Semifinal

Tara Kimball-Erin Morstad (FF) def. Luckemeyer-Houle 6-2, 62

Quarterfinal

Luckemeyer-Houle def. Ashley Mergens-Tiffany Werre (FF) 4-6,

6-4, 6-4

Opening round

Luckemeyer-Houle def. Eve Hartsell-Carlie Hanson (Alex) 6-4, 6-1

Ann Bergstrand-Nikki Ecklund (Alex) def. Erica Mortensen-Amber Arnoldy (Brd) 6-2, 6-2

Melanie Dwyer-Janissa Phillips (Moor) def. Anna Pfohl-Lauren Theis 6-2, 6-1

Rachel Smith-Suzanne Nordquist (Bem) def. Sara Peterson-Raina Rodewald (LF) 6-3, 6-1

Next: Brainerd in Section 8-2A individual tournament 6 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. Tuesday at Gold's Gym, Sartell.