Pierz qualifies first tennis players for state action

HIBBING -- The Pierz Pioneers doubles team of Sheena Loidolt-Shiela Stegora became the first state qualifiers in school history following the Section 7, Class 1A tennis tournament Tuesday.

Loidolt-Stegora beat a Virginia team 6-1, 6-0. In the next round, they beat Lisa Anderson-Lindsey Erickson of Pine City 6-1, 6-0. In the championship, the Pierz duo fell to another Pine City team 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

The Pierz tandem played a true second-place match against Lindsay Shoden-Jane Polski of Virginia. The Pioneers were victorious 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to advance to state.

They play in the Class A state tournament Oct. 25-26 at the Nicollet Tennis Center in Minneapolis.

Stacey Gruber-Emily Stumpf of Pierz also competed in the section doubles tournament. They lost to the team of Shoden-Polski from Virginia 6-2, 6-4.

Amanda Tschida was the only Pioneers singles player to compete. She lost to the eventual section champion Alli Ritts of Duluth Marshall 6-0, 6-1.