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The Cardinals boys’ tennis team began section tournament play Monday night in Benson following three losses on the road over the past week.
LHS dropped games to Fairmont 7-0 on May 16 and Benson 7-0 and Dawson Boyd 6-1 on May 18 before returning Monday, May 22, to Benson where they lost to the No. 1-seeded team 7-0 in Section Quarterfinal play.
Next up is the Individual Section 3A Tournament Thursday, May 30, in Redwood Falls.
Fairmont 7, LHS 0
The Luverne tennis team fell to Fairmont 7-0 at home on May 16 in several close matches.
“Against Fairmont, Parker Carbonneau’s match was the one to watch,” head coach Nathan Rud said.
“It was a very close match with lots of excellent shots by both players. Unfortunately Parker came up just a bit short with a strong showing.”
In singles play, senior Ethan Nath fell 6-2, 6-3 to Jack Hagen, the No. 1 singles player in the Big South Conference.
Parker Carbonneau lost to Dominic Lund-May 6-3, 6-4 and senior Ross Bergman lost 6-1, 6-2 to Noah Vetter.
Luverne gave up one match to Fairmont by forfeit from lack of athletes able to play.
In doubles, freshman Zander Carbonneau and sophomore Kaleb Hemme fell 6-2, 6-0 to Carter Quist and Olivia Ortega.
Freshmen Austin Sandbulte and Elijah Henrichs were defeated 6-0, 6-1 by Wylee Frederiksen and Anthony Stegge.
LHS gave up one doubles match by forfeit due to lack of available players.
Benson 7, LHS 0
The Cardinals tennis team lost on the road 7-0 to Benson May 18 in hard-fought matches.
“Luverne played very well against Benson, a fine tennis team,” Rud said.
“Both doubles teams played particularly well. The matches were much closer than the team score reflected.”
In singles play, Nath was defeated 6-3, 6-1 by Hunter LeClair, Parker Cardonneau lost 6-1, 6-1 to Blake Brehmer, senior Ross Bergman lost 6-1, 6-1 to Max Young and LHS gave up one match by forfeit.
In doubles play, Zander Carbonneau and Hemme played close games, falling 6-3, 6-3 to Isaac Carlson and Harold Habben, and Sandbulte and Henrichs were defeated by Jonathan Ilstrup and Brandon Sondag.
LHS gave up one doubles match due to forfeit.
Dawson-Boyd 6, LHS 1
The Cardinals took on Dawson-Boyd on the road May 18, losing 6-1.
“Against Dawson-Boyd Ethan Nath and Parker Carbonneau played phenomenally in singles with Nath winning and Carbonneau losing a close tiebreaker,” Rud said.
In singles play, Nath defeated Jackson Buer 7-5, 6-4.
Parker Cardonneau fell to Gavin Stulz 7-5 in match one, beat Stulz 6-3 in match two and fell 10-8 in the third match.
Bergman lost 6-4, 6-1 to Matthew Martinson, and LHS forfeited one match.
In doubles play, Zander Carbonneau and Hemme fell 6-3, 6-3 to Gunner Olson and Luke Stock.
Austin Sandbulte and Elijah Henrichs lost 6-1, 6-1 to Brody Bothun and Mitchell Myers.
LHS also gave up one doubles match by forfeit.
Benson 7, LHS 0
In section quarterfinal play, No. 8-seed Luverne traveled to play No. 1-seed Benson and lost 7-0, giving up one singles and one doubles match by forfeit May 22.
“Today’s match went about as expected for an 8-seed team playing a 1-seed team, as we were beaten convincingly in three matches and forfeited two,” Rud said.
“However, we were very competitive in our first and second singles matches.”
He praised Nath and Parker Carbonneau for continuing to play “inspired” tennis.
“Ethan came very close to winning the first set against the No. 1 undefeated singles player in Section 3A,” Rud said.
In singles play, Nath lost to Hunter LeClair 6-4, 6-2.
Parker Carbonneau fell to Blake Brehmer 6-3, 6-2.
Bergman lost to Max Young 6-0, 6-0 and Luverne forfeited one singles match to Benson.
In doubles play, Hemme and Zander Carbonneau lost to Harold Habben and Isaac Carlson 6-0, 6-2.
Elijah Henrichs and Austin Sandbulte lost to Logan Schauer and Jonathan Listrup 6-0, 6-0, and Luverne forfeited one doubles match.