Huether keeps tourney hopes alive

The Brainerd Warriors girls' tennis team saw one of its most successful seasons in program history come to a close after falling to the Bemidji Lumberjacks 6-1 in the Section 8-2A team championship Monday at Gold's Gym in Sartell.

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With the defeat, the Warriors finished the year 18-2, with both of their losses coming to the Lumberjacks.

Senior Kayla Huether will be the lone Warrior to move on, continuing play in the Section 8-2A individual tournament Tuesday with a chance at the state tournament.

Huether will face off against Katie Kotschezar of Monticello at 8 a.m.

Kayla Huether was a perfect 3-0

Head coach Marnie Whalen said it was a long day for her team, which advanced further than any other team in Warriors' history.

"It's hard to see it come to an end," she said. "This team took us as far as we've ever been. We played well to get to this point. But Bemidji was so strong.

"Kayla is still playing. It's going to get tougher for her, but hopefully it's a fun day tomorrow."

Huether picked up Brainerd's only victory in the 6-1 defeat to Bemidji with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) over Nicole Christiansen.

Earlier in the day the Warriors edged the Rocori Spartans 4-3 in the team semifinals to advance to the Section 8-2A championship.

It was a much tighter dual than the Warriors' 7-0 defeat of the Spartans on Oct. 4.

Huether earned the decisive fourth point for Brainerd.

Whalen said the match was back-and-forth throughout.

Warriors at Section 8-2A tournaments

The key: Kayla Huether was a perfect 3-0 on the day for the Warriors.

Overall: Brd, 18-2

Next: Huether vs. Katie Kotschezar of Monticello, 8 a.m. Monday at Gold's Gym in Sartell

"Taylor (Headlee) and Mikinzee (Salo) both went three sets. Your heart was in your stomach. You had no idea what was going on there," she said. "Kayla just smoked her first set. She was down the second set a couple games and we thought, 'Oh, oh,' but she came through."

Team championship

Bemidji 6 Brainerd 1

Singles

No. 1: Kayla Huether (Brd) def.

Nicole Christiansen 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)

No. 2: Jamie Hoffman (Bmj) def.

Taylor Headlee 6-1, 6-0

No. 3: Rachel Smith (Bmj) def.

Mikinzee Salo 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

No. 4: Brittany Thompson (Bmj) def.

Sam Kletscher 6-0, 6-1

Doubles

No. 1: Kellie Christiansen-Rachel Imsande (Bmj) def. Catherine Luckemeyer-Zoe Houle, 6-1, 6-0

No. 2: Tessa Comstock-Suzann Nordquist (Bmj) def. Erica Mortensen-Amber Arnoldy 6-1, 6-2

No. 3: Megan Huseby-Courtne Solberg (Bmj) def.

Rylie Fussy-Natalie Reponen 6-1, 6-1

Team semifinals

Brainerd 4, Rocori 3

Singles

No. 1: Kayla Huether (Brd) def. Anna Taft 6-1, 6-2

No. 2: Alyse Grelson (Roc) def.

Taylor Headlee 6-2, 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-3)

No. 3: Mikinzee Salo (Brd) def.

Lindsey Schmitt 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

No. 4: Kelly Davis (Roc) def.

Ashley Bostrom 7-6 (7-0), 6-1

Doubles

No. 1: Mandy Nierenhausen-Stephanie Janson (Roc) def. Catherine Luckemeyer-Zoe Houle 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)

No. 2: Erica Mortensen-Amber Arnoldy (Brd) def. Kari Bertram-Bridget Eckhoff 7-6 (9-7), 6-0

No. 3: Rylie Fussy-Natalie Reponen (Brd) def. Kateri Salk-Emily Lutgen 6-4, 6-3

Individual tournament

Singles

Kayla Huether (Brd) def. Anna Taft (Roc) 6-0, 6-2

Parul Kaporr (Tech) def. Taylor Headlee (Brd) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

Stacy Hegland-Maren Holstad (St. Michael-Albertville) def. Catherine Luckemeyer-Zoe Houle 6-2, 6-2

TY RUSHMEYER may be reached at ty.rushmeyer@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5865.