tennis season moves to individual tournament

The LHS girls’ tennis team competed in the first two rounds of the Section 3A individual tournament in Sioux Falls Thursday, Oct. 13.
Luverne had two individuals playing singles and two doubles teams competing for the right to move on to semifinals and finals that were scheduled to be played Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Sioux Falls.
In singles competition Thursday, Cassi Chesley, the No. 9 section seed, was defeated by the No. 8 seed Tayte Nokleby from MACCRAY Coop 6-0, 6-0. 
Luverne’s second singles player and No. 11 seed, Morgan Hadler, lost to No. 7 seed Brielle Kulm of Pipestone 6-2, 6-4, also in the first round. 
“Both Cassi and Morgan faced girls that were playing very good tennis,” said LHS coach Jon Beers.
“I wish that they would have been able to play more than one match each.”
In doubles play, Sarah Stegenga and Katharine Kelm won both matches and will now play Oct. 18 for a chance to compete in the individual state tournament.
They defeated Brianna Nelson and Sarana West from Yellow Medicine East 6-1, 6-3 in the first round, and they beat Hanna Oie and Kalista Borman from Lac Qui Parle in the second round.
Caitlin Kindt and Augusta Papik also competed in doubles for LHS and were defeated by Claire Lowry and Kayla Jahn of Lac Qui Parle 7-5, 6-2.
“Sarah and Katharine are now two wins away from state, and I feel they have a great shot at making it,” Beers said.
“I was really pleased with the way they played in their second match.” Stegenga and Kelm were scheduled to continue their season Tuesday in Sioux Falls with a chance to represent LHS in the State Individual Tournament in Minneapolis.