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St. Michael-Albertville 6, Chisago Lakes 1
Last year, the Wildcats and Knights played late in the season and the match essentially determined who the Mississippi 8 Conference champion was going to be.

The Wildcats won that one and wrapped up an undefeated conference season. This year, the road to be traveled is still long, but St. Michael-Albertville pulled into the early lead with a 6-1 win over the Wildcats on Tuesday, April 14.

The match was not a blowout, as many of the lost points were close. Thomas Braski at second singles and Jacob Carlson and Alex Sagendorf at third doubles both lost in three set matches. Brock Lizotte and Jeremy Wesloh raced out to an early lead at first doubles before losing to an emotional St. Michael tandem. Patrick Sullivan went to tiebreaker in the second set of his match, also.

The lone win on the afternoon came from Thomas Gillach at first singles. The sophomore battled it out with fellow 10th grader Jimmy Li. The two had some sustained volleys that were tiring spectators necks out, but Gillach usually came out on top. He ended up winning the match 6-2, 6-3.

Chisago Lakes 6, St. Francis 1
The STMA loss followed a reverse trend of the St. Francis Fighting Saints match on Friday, April 10 at St. Francis.

In that one, there were plenty of close matches, but they all seemed to go Chisago Lakes’ way. At first singles, Gillach won 6-4, 7-5 over Gunner Dupont.

At second singles, Thomas Braski dropped his first set 2-6 before rebounding to win 6-3, 6-1 in a three set affair.

Matt won the first set in his match 6-4 before losing the second set 3-6. He regained his composure in time to finish out the third set 7-5 in a very hotly contested match.

At first doubles Lizotte and Wesloh endured a 6-4, 4-6 6-2 win while Wyatt Melloy and Elijah Olson narrowly lost at seonc doubles 5-7, 3-6. Sagendorf and Carlson flew through their match at third doubles, winning 6-0, 6-0.

Early Season Tourney
The Wildcats dropped three matches in a season-opening tournament, although it featured Forest Lake and two of the top ranked teams in the state in Elk River and Minneapolis Washburn. Sagendorf and Carlson got the lone point against Elk River. Washburn swept their match against CL 7-0.
The ‘Cats hung with Forest Lake, losing 4-3, getting points from Braski, Sullivan, and Sagendorf and Carlson.

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