, 
The Luverne girls’ tennis team opened the 2020 season with a victory Monday in Luverne.
The Cardinals defeated the Worthington Trojans 6-1, winning all three doubles matches and three of four singles contests.
The tennis team joins the cross country team as the only Cardinal sports allowed to compete this fall because of pandemic restrictions.
The tennis season will be shortened with no more than two matches per week, limited travel and only dual match-ups allowed. The possibility of post-season tournament play is yet to be determined.
Luverne’s second-year coach Jon Beers is optimistic about the new season, even if there are a lot of unknowns.
“We’re returning a lot of varsity talent this year with ten girls who saw varsity action last season,” Beers said.
That returning experience was on display Monday against the Trojans.
Roz Oye, returning at No. 1 singles, defeated Worthington’s Kessey Aljets 6-1, 6-2.
At No. 2 singles, Luverne’s Elise Jarchow is also returning to her same position on the team. On Monday Jarchow defeated Marah Darling 6-1, 6-1.
Mia Wenzel, who played No. 4 singles much of last season for Luverne, is at No. 3 singles in 2020. Wenzel lost to Ivy Jenson 6-3, 7-5.
At No. 4 singles, Luverne’s Ainslie Robinson was victorious over Taya Oberloh 6-2, 6-1.
The Cardinals swept all three doubles matches.
At No. 1 doubles, Solveig Tofteland and Lauren Ver Steeg defeated Madison Johnson and Bailey Newman 6-1, 6-1. Tofteland and Ver Steeg formed the No. 2 doubles team for Luverne last season.
Olivia Wieneke and Jacey Smith of Luverne, who competed at No. 3 doubles last year, are in the No. 2 doubles spot this season.
Wieneke and Smith came out on top of Sephie Bauman and Calah Riley 6-1, 6-4 Monday.
At No. 3 doubles, Luverne’s Brynn Thier and Liz Kelm defeated Brook Nordseth and Riley Nickel 6-1, 6-0.
“The girls played great,” said Beers. “This was a nice start to the season.”