---

Chisago Lakes Invite

Steve Otte, Chisago Lakes girls tennis head coach, was concerned. After facing St. Francis, the ‘Cats schedule heated up with three invitationals in six days, a tough pill to swallow for a young and improving tennis team.

“Right now, I’d rather play a match or two and come back to practice for a couple of days and work on some things,” mentioned Otte. “The girls are asking questions and those questions can only be answered in practice. Plus, fatigue becomes a big part of it.”

Yes it does, and yes it did.

The Wildcats began the week with the Chisago Lakes Invite last Tuesday. The round robin tournament brought in Spring Lake Park, Hudson, and Mahtomedi, one of the best teams in the section.

Playing at number two singles, Kara Orwoll finished with the best record for Chisago, going 2-1. Orwoll won her first two matches before falling to Mahtomedi in straight sets.

In doubles play, despite playing close the entire way, the number one doubles team of Rachel Meyer and Emily Caneday finished 1-2. The ‘Cats number two and three doubles also finished the tournament with a record of 1-2.

“It was good to see that competition, especially Mahtomedi,” said Otte. “Last year, we would just show up and get throttled and we knew we were going to get throttled. We only had two seniors. This year, we have different goals and we expect more. Seeing those types of teams are going to help us reach our goal.”

Chisago Lakes Invite results:

(CL only)

Singles:

#1- Rachel Nelson (1-2)

#2- Kara Orwoll (2-1)

#3- Meg Dennison (1-0)

Sammi Schares (0-2)

#4- Valerie Brunnette (1-1)

Carrie Carpenter (0-1)

Doubles:

#1- R. Meyer/Caneday (1-2)

#2- N. Nelson/S. Nelson (1-2)

#3- Arnold/Boynton (1-2)

White Bear Invite-

Things didn’t get any easier for the Wildcats last Thursday at the White Bear Invitational.

The ‘Cats started their day with the Bears. White Bear rolled through singles play, winning three of the four matches. The only win came from Rachel Nelson who won in straight sets at number three singles.

White Bear carried their dominance into doubles play as well, sweeping the ‘Cats and securing a 6-1 in the process. All three doubles matches were decided in straight sets.

Next up was Unity, Wisconsin. After splitting singles play, the ‘Cats used their doubles to secure their first win of the season. All three doubles teams won their matches including Rachel Meyer and Rachel Nelson who won in three sets.

To close out the tournament, Chisago Lakes faced off with Hudson, Wisconsin, falling 5-2. Sammi Schares picked up the lone singles win for the ‘Cats while Emily Caneday and Valerie Brunnette won at number two singles.

“Against Hudson, there were some third set tie-breakers that didn’t go our way,” remarked Otte. “To be honest, with the long week and the heat, by the second and third set our girls were just gassed. They were tired and when you’re tired, you don’t listen. You hope to point some things out to them in practice.”

The loss dropped the Wildcats season record to 1-3.

White Bear Lake 6

Chisago Lakes 1

Singles:

Nadeau (WBL) def. Orwoll 6-0, 6-0

Brown (WBL) def. Schares 6-2, 6-4

R. Nelson (CL) def. Seipel 6-0, 6-0

Steeber (WBL) def.

Brunnette 6-0, 6-2

Doubles:

Carlson/Hallberg def.

Dennison/R. Meyer (CL) 6-3, 6-0

Peltier/Waddle def.

Carpenter/S. Nelson (CL) 6-1, 6-2

Ackerman/Jungers def.

Arnold/N. Nelson (CL) 6-0, 6-2

Chisago Lakes 5

Unity, Wisc. 2

Singles:

Kothlow def. Schares (CL) 6-0, 6-1

L’Allier def. Orwoll (CL) 6-4, 6-0

Dennison (CL) def. Cousins

6-1, 6-1

Brunnette (CL) def. Troutman

6-1, 6-3

Doubles:

R. Nelson/R. Meyer (CL) def.

Christenson/Kutina 6-4, 3-6, 10-3

Carpenter/McKrane (CL) def.

6-2, 6-3

S. Nelson/Boynton (CL) def.

Florer/Peterson 6-4, 6-1

Hudson, Wisc. 5

Chisago Lakes 2

Singles:

Feyereisen def. R. Nelson (CL)

6-3, 6-1

Schares (CL) def. Muckler

7-6, 5-7, 11-9

Schmidt def. Dennison (CL)

6-3, 6-7, 10-5

Wiech def. McKrane (CL) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles:

Naegeli/Knutson def.

Orwoll/R. Meyer (CL) 6-0, 6-3

Heinsch/Cook def.

Brunnette/Carpenter (CL) 7-5, 6-4

Dernosek/Dahl def.

N. Nelson/Alyssa L. (CL)

6-4, 0-6, 7-9

River Falls Invite-

With fatigue already a major issue for head coach Steve Otte, the Chisago Lakes girls tennis team laced up their shoes before heading to River Falls, Wisconsin last Saturday for the River Falls Invite. It was the third tournament in a row for the ‘Cats and it showed.

Up first, already a very familiar face in Hudson. The meeting was the third between the two teams this season with Hudson winning both times before.

Hudson made sure three was the charm as they disposed of the Wildcats in quick fashion. The ‘Cats only managed to win one match at number two doubles when Valerie Brunnette and Emily Caneday disposed of their opponents in three sets.

“It’s hard, especially when you see them three times,” remarked Otte. “The hardest part is to keep the girls upbeat. You get done with one and run to the next. They had very little left to give.”

Chisago used whatever they had left in the second match of the day to squeak out a close win over host River Falls. For the first time this season, the ‘Cats singles play showed up, sweeping all four matches, all in straight sets. Despite the fact that River Falls returned the favor in doubles play, the Wildcats were able to win their second match of the year.

Their tank was empty, and it showed.

To close out the tourney, Chisago Lakes faced off with White Bear Lake for the second time in three days. After winning 6-1 the first time the two teams met, the Bears went a step further, shutting out the ‘Cats with a 7-0 win. All matches were won in straight sets.

Hudson, Wisc. 6

Chisago Lakes 1

Singles:

Feyereisen def. Schares (CL)

6-1, 6-1

Wiech def. Orwoll (CL) 6-3, 6-2

Muckler def. Carpenter (CL)

6-2, 6-3

Schmidt def. Boynton (CL)

6-1, 6-4

Doubles:

Naegeli/Knutson def.

R. Nelson/R. Meyer (CL)

4-6, 6-4, 6-4

Brunnette/Caneday (CL) def.

Heinsch/Dahl 6-4, 5-7, 10-4

Dernosek/Cook def.

S. Nelson/McKrane (CL) 6-2, 6-1

Chisago Lakes 4

River Falls, Wisc. 3

Singles:

R. Nelson (CL) def. Schwalbach

6-4, 6-3

Schares (CL) def. Kunkel 6-1, 6-2

Caneday (CL) def. Kelpin 6-2, 6-1

Brunnette (CL) def. Halverson

6-0, 6-1

Doubles:

Vannett/Verburg def.

Meyer/Orwoll 6-2, 6-4

Mathisrud/Eisenbrown def.

N. Nelson/S. Nelson 6-3, 4-6, 10-8

Fagan/Johnson def.

Arnold/Alyssa L. 6-3, 7-5

White Bear Lake 7

Chisago Lakes 0

Singles:

Sajevic def. R. Nelson (CL)

6-1, 6-0

Schafleukamp def. Orwoll (CL)

6-2, 7-5

Baken def. Brunnette (CL) 6-1, 6-1

Auvinen def. Boynton (CL) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles:

Ford/Finell def.

R. Meyer/Schares (CL) 7-5, 6-1

Beebe/Baker def.

Caneday/McKrane (CL) 6-2, 6-1

Guertzen/Meyer def.

S. Nelson/Carpenter (CL) 6-3, 6-2

---