By John RittenhouseThe Luverne High School tennis team successfully defended its 2005 Section 3A Team Tournament title by winning three straight one-point matches during the 2006 version of the event played Monday and Tuesday.Luverne nipped Montevideo in the tournament opener in Luverne Monday, and the Cardinals edged Pipestone and Worthington to capture the section crown in Redwood Falls Tuesday.By winning the section title, the 12-6 Cards earned the right to play at the Minnesota State Class A Team Tennis Tournament at the Northwest Athletic Club in Burnsville. Luverne plays the Section 2A champion at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 6.Luverne competes at the Section 3A Individual Tournament in Redwood Falls today and Tuesday.Luverne 4, Worthington 3After dropping a pair of one-point matches to the Trojans during the regular season, Luverne gained its revenge by winning the section title match against Worthington Tuesday in Redwood Falls.The Cardinals changed their lineup for the title tilt, and the strategy paid off in the form of a one-point win."We used a little different lineup in the championship match," explained LHS coach Greg Antoine."We made our doubles teams a little stronger by using more experienced players there, and it really helped us win."In the end, LHS won all three doubles tilts.Weston Sawtelle and Nick Heronimus posted 6-3 and 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker) wins over Nate Peterson and Tim Roos in the No. 1 slot. Matt Kreuch and Zach Sanderson secured a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory over Alex Stewart and Danny Penaredondo in the second slot. Erik Stegemann and Jamie Vickery handed Jamie Kass and Adam Vosburgh 6-1 and 6-4 losses at No. 3.Add Derek Boeve’s 6-1, 6-3 victory over Torben Schafer at second singles, and LHS recorded enough points to win its second consecutive section title.Worthington’s Jason Johnson defeated David Nelson 6-7 (3-7 in the tiebreaker), 7-5, 6-3 at first singles. Quentin Dudley bested Austin Lee by 6-1 and 6-0 scores at third singles, and Tim Miller topped Jeremy Hoff by 6-1 and 6-0 scores at No. 4.Luverne 4, Pipestone 3The Cardinals advanced to the semifinals by defeating Pipestone in a match that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates Tuesday in Redwood Falls.After winning four team points on the court, LHS retired in the three matches still taking place in order to keep the players in the championship match."The four points we won were quite decisive," said LHS coach Antoine."Everyone recovered from a lackluster showing on Monday to give a really good effort against Pipestone."Boeve and Stegemann earned singles wins at the No. 2 and No. 4 slots respectively.Boeve saddled David Janssen with a pair of 6-2 setbacks, and Stegemann handed Mike Steffan a pair of 6-1 losses.Luverne’s Heronimus and Sawtelle rolled to 6-0 and 6-3 victories over Greg Mitchell and Paul Prunty at first singles. Kreuch and Lee topped Bryce DeWilde and Matt Kondrot by 6-3 scores at second doubles.Luverne’s Nelson (first singles), Sanderson (third singles) and Vickery and Hoff (third doubles) all retired from their matches."The wind was a huge factor Tuesday," added coach Antoine."Everything was altered by it on the court. The team that adjusted to the wind came out on top, and I feel our kids really didn’t let the wind bother them too much."Luverne 4, Montevideo 3The Cards passed their first test of the tournament by nipping Montevideo by one point Monday in Luverne.Luverne went 3-1 in singles and received a victory from its No. 1 doubles team to advance to the semifinals.Boeve (7-5 and 6-1 over Trevor Kittleson at No. 2), Zach Sanderson (6-2 and 6-1 over Sam Aalfs at No. 3) and Stegemann (6-2 and 6-4 over David Anariba at No. 4) secured singles wins for LHS.Heronimus and Sawtelle topped Adam Malecek and Jack Powers by 6-2 and 6-0 scores at first doubles.Montevideo’s Peter Mohagen bested Nelson by 7-5 and 6-2 counts at first singles.Chris Tasted and Chad Forde prevailed by 6-7 (7-2 in the tiebreaker), 6-2 and 7-5 scores over Kreuch and Lee at second doubles. Jordan Curtis and Taylor Jarman won a 7-6 (7-2 in the tiebreaker), 2-6, 7-5 battle against Vickery and Hoff in the third slot."It was a close match," said Cardinal coach Antoine."The strength and our depth in singles carried us through."