The Milbank Bulldogs boys tennis team started its 2016 season with a 6-3 victory over Pipestone, MN, Tuesday, April 5. Beautiful spring weather made for favorable conditions for both teams and fans.
“I’m very pleased to open our season with a ‘W’,” stated Bulldog head tennis coach Jim Dahl. “Having nine of our 11 practices outdoors to start the season is a record for the spring boys tennis team. It was good for the players to get a match in to see where we are progressing and where we need to look for improvement.”
Leading the team this season are sophomore Adam Thomas at number one singles; junior Matt Lenards, number two singles; sophomore Mitch Quade, number three singles; eighth grader Max McCulloch, number four singles; freshman Connor VanVooren, number five singles; and senior Chris Loutsch, number six singles.
The varsity team won four of its six singles matches and two of the three doubles contests. Earning a singles win were Mitch Quade, Max McCulloch, Connor VanVooren, and Chris Loutsch. “Three of our six singles wins were very competitive and could have gone either way,” explained Dahl. “It is always refreshing to see players bear down and make adjustments to pull out the tight matches, especially early in the season.”
In their first varsity experience, VanVooren and McCulloch were double winners as were teammates Loutsch and Quade. “Pipestone’s number one and two singles players and number one doubles team were very solid opponents and part of a much improved team from last season,” noted Dahl.
Milbank will travel to Aberdeen Friday and Saturday for the Rezatto Invitational. “We know the competition will be tougher this weekend,” said Dahl. “We will match up with solid South Dakota competition.”
Following are the complete results from Tuesday’s match:
Milbank 6, Pipestone, MN 3
Varsity Singles
1. Adam Thomas fell to Trace Lueck, 6-4, 6-2; 2. Matt Lenards lost to Joe Morgan, 6-1, 6-2; 3. Mitch Quade defeated Tristan Pals, 6-2, 6-0; 4. Max McCulloch won over Noah Onken, 6-4, 6-2; 5. Connor VanVooren downed Jackson Winter, 6-0, 6-1; 6. Chris Loutsch defeated Dalton Pottaratz, 7-6 (6), 6-3.
Varsity Doubles
1. Thomas/Lenards fell to Lueck/Morgan, 10-5; 2. Quade/McCulloch defeated Pals/Onken, 10-8; 3. VanVooren/Loutsch won over Winter/Pottaratz, 10-1.
Exhibition Matches
Ethan Bohn defeated Cole Onken, 9-7; Ethan Paysen won over Riley Langstreet, 8-3; Noah Pillatzki downed Taylor Melleman, 8-0; Zach Aker defeated Sam Wollman, 8-0.
Bohn/Paysen defeated Onken/Langstreet, 8-5; James Weber/Nathan Loutsch won over Pottaratz/Melleman, 6-4.
Staff Writer
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