CEC out of team playoffs

After a wild finish to the regular season, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls tennis team opened the Section 7AA team tournament Tuesday in Grand Rapids. The 'Jacks came into the tournament as the No. 12 seed and had the unenviable task of taking on the No. 5 seeded Thunderhawks. Grand Rapids proved to be a tough foe and downed the Lumberjacks 6-1 in the first round to eliminate CEC from the team competition.

CEC's lone win in the playoff match came at No. 4 singles, when Lydia Stone defeated Caroline Ahcan, who retired due to injury in the match. At the time of Ahcan retiring, Stone led the match 6-4, 4-4 in the second set.

Lauren Maslowski lost 6-0, 6-0 to the Thunderhawks Jordan Troubly at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 singles, Eva Kangas beat CEC's Addie Loeb 6-0, 6-2. CEC's No. 3 singles player, Winnie Benjamin Hall, also dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision to Emily Hill.

The CEC No. 1 doubles team of Kylie Mckeon and Lexi Norrgard took a tough 6-4, 6-3 to Kalei Dowell and Courtney Brandt. At No. 2 doubles, the CEC team of Marina Dostal and Carlee Maslowski fell 6-2, 6-1 to Taryn Hamling and Nicole Ramirez. Finally, the CEC No. 3 doubles team of Alexys Serafin and Brianna Despot dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision to Hailey Lafrenier and Hannah Lafrenier.

Prior to the team tournament, the 'Jacks had a whirlwind schedule of games last week including matches Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Monday they fell to the Marshall Hilltoppers 5-2 with the CEC wins coming from the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams. At No. 1 doubles, Lexi Norrgard and Lauren Maslowski picked up a 6-1, 7-6 win and the CEC No. 2 doubles team of Kylie Mckeon and Carlee Maslowski won 6-2, 7-5 over their opponents.

On Tuesday the 'Jacks downed Crosby-Ironton 4-3 in a tough match with CEC taking three of the four singles matches. Lauren Maslowski won at No. 2 singles 1-6, 6-4, 10-6; Addie Loeb was a winner at No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-2, and Winnie Benjamin Hall took a victory 6-2, 6-2.

"Along with the wins at 3 and 4 singles and No. 2 doubles, we got our fourth point from Lauren Maslowski in a third-set, super tie-breaker," coach Derek Johnson said. "I'm very proud of Lauren, that was a big win for her and that was a big win for our team. She was outmatched in the first set and was overhitting and just needed to relax. The second set she played calm, cool and collected. I told her during the changeover that we needed her to win to get the team a win. As senior captain, she handled the pressure very well and just nodded and said OK."

In doubles play, the Lumberjacks got a win from their No. 2 team of Carlee Maslowski and Marina Dostal, who beat their opponents 6-1, 6-3 to solidify the win for CEC.

"Carlee and Marina played a competitive match with great return of serves against C-I," Johnson said. "Carlee does a great job of hitting her ground strokes deep crosscourt and when that happens it allows Marina to be aggressive at the net and hit the open space when the ball comes to her."

CEC's final regular season match of the year was last Wednesday in a rain-shortened affair that saw them beat Superior 4-0.

"We got the four points we needed for the win," Johnson said.

The only matches played were at No. 3 and No. 4 singles and at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles with CEC winning all four matches.

At No. 3 singles Addie Loeb won 3-6, 6-4, 3-0 and then her opponent retired giving Loeb the win.

"Addie started slow, but she always seems to battle and never gives up," Johnson said. "Her game is never going to overpower you, it's about staying consistent. She was up 3-0 in the third set when her opponent retired due to injury. Addie is tough: her matches definitely go the longest, but I don't get too worried if she loses the first set because she has battled back to force a third set so many times this year."

CEC's Winnie Benjamin Hall won at No. 4 singles by beating her opponent Emily Asp 6-1, 6-1.

"Winnie won pretty handily against Superior," Johnson said. "Winnie was way more consistent and just hit a stronger ball than her opponent."

At No. 2 doubles, the CEC team of Carlee Maslowski and Marina Dostal won again with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Emma Eibon and Lexi Williams of Superior.

"Those two are streaky when they play together," Johnson said. "They can rattle off 3 or 4 games in a row, but they can also give up 3 or 4 games in a row. Carlee and Marina kept their energy level up in the third set and came out in front. It's important for those two to keep a positive attitude with high energy because that's when they play at their best."

The No. 3 doubles team of Alexys Serafin and Lydia Stone knocked off Ella Graves and Callie Holmland 6-2, 6-3 to sweep the event for CEC.

"Alexys and Lydia have been a solid doubles combo," Johnson said. "They have good chemistry together and always stay positive and against Superior they got the job done. Our girls did a good job of keeping it away from the net person and putting the ball away when they had the opportunity. Alexys has come a long way for us this year and is one of the most improved players on the team."

Following the loss to Grand Rapids, the 'Jacks were eliminated from team play in the sectional tournament. Individual play will begin Tuesday, Oct. 8.