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The Wildcat tennis team lost two close conference meets recently before overpowering two conference foes. Tuesday, May 1, the 'Cats lost a 4-3 decision at Totino-Grace. Thursday, May 3, at the CLHS courts, the Irondale Knights beat the home team 5-2. The Wildcats shut out Fridley 7-0 at Fridley Monday, May 7 and did the same to North Branch at CL Tuesday, May 8.

Totino-Grace 4, CL 3

"Totino-Grace came to town with a good team," said Wildcat head coach Steve Otte. Totino took a 4-0 lead by quickly winning matches at third and fourth singles and third and fourth doubles. The team result was already determined before Joe Knafla (first singles), Kyle Hogie (second singles) and Scott Leigh and Mark Eagan (first doubles), came off of the courts with the last three points for Wildcats.

"Many of the matches so far this year we have either won big or lost big. So this was a nice match for us," Otte continued. "Many of the sets were going back and forth and this match easily could have gone our way for the win.

"Joe Knafla played some great tennis. He was in a zone and hitting some nice ground strokes in the match. Joe is captain this year and leads by example. He doesn't say much when he plays, but he plays hard and expects to win every time," the coach added.

Irondale 5, Chisago Lakes 2

"Irondale is a very patient team. Actually, they are the most patient team we have played this year. Irondale did a great job just keeping the ball in play and that was really the difference in the match," coach Otte said.

Mark Eagan and Scott Leigh, playing at first doubles, made quick work of their opponents. "When their serves are on, look out," Otte commented. At second doubles, "The match went back in forth with players from both teams having a hard time holding serve. The match ended when Mike (Zvonar) and Jacob (Spehar) broke the serve of the Irondale player. It was the only time they broke that player's serve in the match."

Singles

1st Joe Knafla lost 2-6, 0-6

2nd Matt Carpenter lost 1-6, 2-6

3rd Kyle Hogie lost 0-6, 1-6

4th David Carlson lost 3-6, 4-6

Doubles

1st Mark Eagan/Scott Leigh won 6-1, 6-2

2nd Jacob Spehar/Mike Zvonar won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

3rd Matt Jorgenson/Jeremy Patterson lost 4-6, 0-6

CL 7, Fridley 0

The Wildcats made quick work of the Fridley Tigers. The doubles teams won quickly and played well to get the 'Cats out to an early 3-0 lead. The singles players had to work a little harder to get their victories, but all four came through to cement the win.

Otte said, "I'd like to take a little time to talk about David Carlson. David is a senior and has been on the tennis team for quite a while now. He played fourth singles for the team last year and is playing the same position again this year. David does a great job of keeping the ball in play one shot longer than his opponent. It is hard to rattle David on court and he just keeps playing his style of tennis. He is a great kid and I'm glad he is playing tennis for the Wildcats."

CL 7, North Branch 0

The Wildcats shut out the Vikings, giving up very few games in the conference win. "It should be noted that North Branch was missing two players and that definitely makes a difference in the line-up," Otte said.

Coach Otte switched things up in this meet. The first doubles team of Scott Leigh and Mark Eagan played singles for the 'Cats. "Leigh mentioned to me that he doesn't remember the last time he played singles," Otte commented. "Both did a nice job today."

In another change, Matt Carpenter and Kyle Hogie, who usually man the second and third singles spots, played first doubles against the Vikings. "They plan on playing doubles for the individual sections at the end of the year. So, this gave them an opportunity to do that," Otte added.

"I witnessed two awesome shots during the match. First, Matt Jorgenson hit the best drop shot I have seen so far this year. If he could patent that shot...look out. The other shot was made by Hogie while playing doubles with Carpenter. The Viking team hit a wide shot and Hogie got to it and floated the ball right over the score tree and down the line for a beautiful winner," said the impressed coach.

Singles

1 st Joe Knafla won 6-0, 6-1

2nd Scott Leigh won 6-3, 6-2

3rd Mark Eagan won 6-0, 6-0

4th David Carlson won 6-0, 6-1

Doubles

1st Matt Carpenter/Kyle Hogie won 6-0, 6-0

2nd Doubles, Jacob Spehar/Matt Jorgenson won 6-1, 6-0

3rd Doubles, Matt Turner/Jeremy Patterson won 6-1, 6-1

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