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The North Branch tennis team opened its 2007 campaign with a 5-2 loss to Fridley Thursday, April 12 at the North Branch courts.

"In our first meet of the year, we were close in most of the matches and had a chance to win our first meet in a couple of years," said Viking head coach Tom McLaughlin.

Sophomore Travis Heilig picked up the lone singles point for the home team by winning 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 at third singles. The other NB point came at third doubles where senior Sam Stahley and junior Brandt Rasmussen won 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.

A bright spot for the Vikings was at fourth singles, where Freshman Nick Lambrecht lost a close, three set match 7-6 (7-1) 3-6, 5-7. McLauglin was also encouraged by the play of senior Tony Rollins and sophomore Avery Swanson at first doubles who, "Lost 4-6, 2-6 but played well." The second doubles tandem of freshman Brandon Sonnenfeld and junior Joel Cramblit lost 4-6, 4-6 in another tight match.

Champlin Park 7, NB 0

Friday the 13th did not turn out to be lucky for the Vikings, who lost 7-0 to the rebels at North Branch in a makeup due to the snow earlier in the week.

"Champlin was just better than us top to bottom," McLaughlin said. "Nobody lost 0-6, 0-6 but only second doubles (Brandon Sonnenfeld and Joel Cramblit) was close, losing 3-6, 3-6. Everyone else played well."

Robbinsdale Cooper 5, NB 2

Tuesday, April 17 the Vikings continued their season-opening home stand with a 5-2 loss to the Hawks.

"We won our points at third and fourth singles," the coach said. At third, Travis Heilig won 7-5, 6-0 and Nick Lambrecht, playing in the fourth spot, won 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-0).

"He was down 0-4 in the third set and fought back to get to the tiebreaker at 6-6 after fending off a couple of match points and then controlled the entire tiebreaker, McLaughlin commented. "At third doubles, Sam Stahley and Brandt Rasmussen again played close but lost in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 5-7. Senior Dan Mork played his best match at one singles before losing 2-6, 4-6."

North Branch at Irondale

The Vikings lost 0-7 to Irondale Thursday, April 17. "Irondale was just a much better team than us and don't drop off as much in talent from the top to the bottom spots," McLaughlin said. "It was our first match with a rearranged lineup. Sophomores Aaron Good and Travis Heilig have moved to firsts and second singles after winning challenge matches. They have both improved their play a great deal as the season has gone on, earning the promotion in the lineup.

"We are a bit young over all. Two of our four upperclassmen we have on varsity have never played competitive tennis before. Everyone else is sophomores or freshman, but they are improving rapidly." the coach concluded.

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