Trojan tennis team still looking for right combinations

After four meets, the New Prague Trojan tennis team is still looking for the right combinations in singles and doubles. The Trojans opened with a tournament at Mankato East, finishing fourth of six teams, then had a rough outing at Delano. They finished sixth of eight teams in their own home meet, then defeated Le Sueur-Henderson Monday in a dual meet.

The Trojans travel to New Ulm for a dual meet Thursday, Aug. 28. They then have a week off before they open their Missota Conference schedule with a meet at Shakopee Thursday, Sept. 4.

Mankato East Invitational

The host Cougars won a six-team, round-robin meet where each player or team faced five other teams in seven-game matches. Maple River was second with 27, followed by River Valley (19), New Prague (12), New Ulm (9) and Martin County West (6). Coach Matt Duoos said the Trojans' singles teams played well, but there is a need for the team's doubles pairings to develop some chemistry. He said junior Amanda Powell did well at No. 1 singles in her first-ever varsity tennis match. Individual results were not available.

Delano Invitational

Team scores were not available from this eight-team meet. The Trojans had disappointing results, though each team won one match out of three. Megan Palma (No. 2 singles), Leah Gross (No. 4 singles) and the No. 2 doubles team of Leeanna Manthe and Anna Hanson placed sixth while Powell (No. 1 singles), Sam Goblirsch (No. 3 singles) finished seventh, as did No. 2 doubles (Briana Skluzacek and Sara Lang), No. 3 doubles (Rebecca Hanson and Sara Morrison) and No. 4 doubles (Hannah Powell and Erin Grabosky).

New Prague hosted the Trojan Invitational Saturday, with eight teams competing. New Prague placed sixth with 13 points. Minnetonka took first place with 38 points, followed by Orono (26), United South Central (21.5), Glencoe-Silver Lake (19), Roseau (16), The Trojans (13), New London-Spicer (11.5) and Faribault (2).

New Prague Invitational

Duoos revamped the Trojans' lineup and had success in the singles, while most of the doubles teams still struggled.

Minnetonka swept the singles competition, winning all four flights, and also took first at No. 3 doubles. They took second in the other two flights. Orono won at No. 2 doubles and United South Central took No. 1 doubles.

Sara Lang had New Prague's top finish, taking second at No. 4 singles. She easily defeated Kofsted of Faribault 6-1, 6-1 in her first round match, then beat Ruschmeyer of Glencoe-Silver Lake in the second round 6-1, 6-4. She lost the championship match to Smith of Minnetonka 6-0, 6-0.

Briana Skluzacek, a junior, took third at No. 1 singles. After beating Kuester of GSL in the first round, 6-1, 6-0, she lost her second round match to Lambert of Minnetonka, one of the state's top-ranked players, 6-0, 6-0. Skluzacek rebounded to beat Cappelen of New London-Spicer 6-0, 6-2 in her final match.

The Trojans had two fourth place finishes, Megan Palma at No. 2 singles and Manthe and Anna Hanson at No. 2 doubles. Powell took sixth at No. 2 singles. The Trojans other entries, Gross and Goblirsch at No. 1 doubles and Rebecca Hanson and Morrison at No. 3 doubles, lost all three matches. Trojans 4, Giants 3

New Prague traveled to Le Sueur Monday, Aug. 25, for a dual meet with Le Sueur-Henderson. The Trojans swept the doubles matches to claim a 4-3 win.

At No. 1 singles, Skluzacek won in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Amanda Powell won at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-0. Palma won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3 singles and Lang won at No. 4 singles, 7-5, 6-1.

All three doubles teams lost, with Gross and Goblirsch pushing their opponents to three sets.

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