Warriors 7, Sartell 0
The key: Brainerd did not lose a set
Conference: Brd 7-2
Overall: Brd 11-3
Next: Brainerd at Willmar 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
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About 150 fans attended the Brainerd Warrior tennis team's "Fill the Hill" promotion that was conducted Tuesday afternoon as part of homecoming week at Brainerd High School.
While fans were treated to a free bag of popcorn and soaked up the sun on a picturesque fall day on the hill behind BHS, the Warriors filled the stat sheet with wins in a 7-0 Central Lakes Conference victory over the Sartell Sabres.
"We definitely got a lot of parents and friends and family to come and support so that was really exciting," Warrior senior Caitlin Steffen said.
Warriors coach Lisa Salo said players remarked as they were going on or coming off the newly refurbished BHS courts that there were more fans than usual.
"How awesome for them to have all sorts of eyes on them, watching how good we are," Salo said. "We're a strong team. All the way through our (junior varsity) we're a deep team.
"It was just cool that people can watch and appreciate that, and our girls feel good about that, so we thank all the fans. It was great. There was free popcorn which was fun. We popped until we ran out. It was a nice little twist that we added to celebrate homecoming and to showcase our new facility which is awesome."
With the postseason rapidly approaching (Oct. 6-7 & Oct. 10-11) and the fact they blanked Sartell four days earlier, the Warriors mixed up their lineup Tuesday with winning results.
Steffen, the Warriors' No. 1 singles player all season, moved to first doubles to play with Brooke Mimmack, whose normal partner is Ashley Fitterer. Steffen-Mimmack won 6-1, 6-2.
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"It was kind of like a gigglefest for a little bit with Brooke," Steffen said. "I don't know if she was having withdrawal from Ashley after playing with me, but it was a lot of fun."
Salo said she shifted players around to give them a different experience. All three doubles positions had different partners and two singles positions were different.
"We wanted to mix things up a little bit to hopefully show the girls, and they can prove to themselves, that regardless of who they play with they can still execute the shots and play the game and the strategies that go with that," Salo said, "so when they're reunited with their partners sometimes that fresh start is a healthy thing to do."
Ashley Fitterer moved to No. 2 singles and responded with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
"Ashley took a big step in doing that, saying yes coach I'll play wherever you need me to play," Salo said. "She did a great job of adjusting, shifting from doubles to singles which probably in a lot of people's minds can be a pretty difficult shift, but she performed very well. We told Ashley you'll get an opportunity to hit a ton of ground strokes and work on your serve. Those were pieces she did so I really give her credit."
Claire Gunsbury moved from No. 2 to No. 1 singles and recorded a 6-4, 6-2 win.
"No. 1 is a position that can be scary at times but she handled it totally like a veteran and performed well as well," Salo said.
Other singles wins were by Payge Fitterer and Hailey Hinrichs. Additional doubles wins were by the pairs of Hannah Moen-Jenna Swenson and Megan Wroolie-Kennedy Rusk.
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Brainerd 7, Sartell 0
Singles
No. 1: Claire Gunsbury (B) def. Kiana Schuchard 6-4, 6-2
No. 2: Ashley Fitterer (B) def. Katherine Muntifering 6-2, 6-2
No. 3: Payge Fitterer (B) def. Madilyn Fesenmaier 6-0, 6-1
No. 4: Hailey Hinrichs (B) def. Kayla Olson 7-6, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1: Caitlin Steffen-Brooke Mimmack (B) def. Makayla Wittmer-George/Markia Smith 6-1, 6-2
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No. 2: Hannah Moen-Jenna Swenson (B) def. Bridget Maas-Emma Zenzen 6-0, 6-3
No. 3: Megan Wroolie-Kennedy Rusk (B) def. Karen Radi-Renee Schroeder 6-3, 6-1
Brainerd junior varsity
Singles winners: Libby Kurtzman, Madi Exsted, Maria Bell, Mikaela Maki
Doubles winners: Sydney Stock-Sarah Wiger, Emily Price-Hannah Spitzley, Shayla Metz-Claire Siekas, Kiera Schweitzberger-Jessie Ernster, Nicole Rud-Isabel Thompson, Maura Halverson-Hannah Rud, Molly West-Abby Thorkelson, Victoria Vesely-Hannah Trtanj, Amanda Rahto-Mallory Maine
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5861. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bertsballpark .
For Photo Gallery go to http://brainerddispatch.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=531320...
