Tennis: CEC girls bow out of playoffs

In her first season as head coach of the Lumberjacks girls tennis team, Emily Hallgren coached the team to a 12-7 regular season record. Although they fell in playoffs last week, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton had a solid first season under Hallgren.

"This was a very cohesive group of girls," Hallgren said. "They had a great sense of team and you don't always get that as a coach."

In team play last week, the 'Jacks fell 6-1 to No. 8 seed North Branch. The only win for the No. 9 seeded 'Jacks came from Paige Goranson at No. 2 singles; she defeated Rebekah Wurdemann of the Vikings, 6-2, 6-2.

"We played them earlier in the season and the games were not that close," Hallgren said. "The scores show just how much each and every one of our players improved. That speaks highly of how hard they worked to get better."

At No. 1 singles, CEC's Emily Mattinen fell 6-2, 6-1 to Paulina Rossini. No. 3 singles saw Ellie Grube lose, 6-0, 6-4. CEC's DJ Vernon also lost 6-1, 7-6 in a tie breaker to North Branch.

In doubles play, the No. 1 CEC team of Raegan Grayson and Rylie Goranson dropped a tough 6-3, 3-6 (10-6 tie breaker).

"This is Raegan's first year of playing tennis," said Hallgren. "She was coachable and worked on things, got a whole lot better and went all the way up to No. 1 doubles."

At No. 2 doubles, Emma Parks and Morgan Olesiak dropped a close 6-3, 6-3 decision, while the CEC No. 3 team of Madison Erickson and Erin Keating also lost in a close decision, 7-5, 6-3.

After losing in the team event, the Lumberjacks were able to send two singles players and two doubles teams into the individual Section 7 meet. In singles, Emilie Mattinen and Paige Goranson lost to players from Rock Ridge and Hermantown, respectively. The No. 1 doubles team of Goranson and Grayson picked up a first-round win over Denfeld before dropping a decision to Rock Ridge. The No. 2 doubles team of Emma Parks ad Morgan Olesiak lost to a team from North Branch.

"Despite the loss, we learned a lot and we are excited for next year," Hallgren said. "We have a lot of kids coming up who I've taught in school. I am excited about what next year holds and the future."