Saints close out team season with loss to Minnetonka in section semifinals

For the fourth straight season, the biggest obstacle facing the St. Peter Saints in the Section 2AA girls tennis tournament was Minnetonka, a school with an enrollment of roughly one fourth the entire population of St. Peter. As they have each season, the Saints weren’t able to crack through the veneer of the Skippers, falling 7-0 despite several compelling performances.

With the loss, the Saints incredible season comes to a close with a record of 20-2 with the lone losses coming to Minnetonka and eventual section champion Prior Lake. St. Peter also gets to enjoy having taken ownership of the Big South Conference Championship.

The most intriguing matchup came in the doubles No. 1 showdown where Nora Whipps and Kylie Southworth started strong before eventually dropping the first set 6-2. In the second set, the duo continued to play well but weren’t able to succeed, falling 6-3. In the doubles No. 2 matchup, the pair of Ella Dirks and Kady Thoms made several great plays after falling 6-1 in the first set. Dirks service game was on point with multiple aces that gave the Saints some life, but eventually succumbed 6-4.

Next up for the players selected to compete in the individual section tournament is a return to Gustavus Adolphus College. The individual tournament is scheduled to begin Friday, Oct. 11, at 9 a.m.

Minnetonka — 7, St. Peter — 0

Singles

No. 1: Ella Roberts (MTA) def. Annika Southworth, 2-0 (6-1, 6-0)

No. 2: Tess Trivedi (MTA) def. Brielle Romasiewicz, 2-0 (6-0, 6-1)

No. 3: Bella Starkman (MTA) def. Margaux Letts, 2-0 (6-1, 6-1)

No. 4: Sofia Jalil (MTA) def. Natalie Salfer, 2-0 (6-0, 6-0)

Doubles

No. 1: Ari Hook/Martina Francisco (MTA) def. Nora Whipps/Kylie Southworth, 2-0 (6-2, 6-3)

No. 2: Grace Faegre/Sadhana Ramraj (MTA) def. Ella Dirks/Kady Thoms, 2-0 (6-1, 6-4)

No. 3: Lucy Prondzinski/Alisa Ivanov (MTA) def. Sada Harmes/Leah Boomgaarden, 2-0 (6-0, 6-1)