ST. CLOUD — Heading into Wednesday’s match, the Tech boys tennis team knew it wasn’t going to be easy to earn a spot in the section finals.
The Tigers took on Alexandria at Sartell High School on Wednesday afternoon for the Section 8AA boys tennis team tournament. It came down to the final matches, but Alexandria was able to squeak out the 4-3 victory and eliminate Tech from the tournament.
Back in the regular season, Tech won 6-1 over Alexandria, but head coach Paul Bates said, after last Wednesday’s match, that it was closer than what the score showed. That statement proved true at Sartell as the overall match went back-and-forth for the first two or three points.
The first point went to Alexandria’s Gannon Lueck at No. 2 singles as he won in straight sets against Tech’s Gavin Fenstad. Tech’s Max Rud and Ripley Garden tied the match up at 1-1 with a straight-set victory at No. 2 doubles.
The Cardinals came back with a win at No. 4 singles with Aaron Jost as he won in straight sets over Tech’s Tomiwa Ajayi. The battle continued as Tech’s Michael Plombom tied the match up at 2-2 with a win at No. 1 singles.
Plombom earned the first set win at 6-3, but lost 6-4 in the second set. He stayed strong and stuck to his game to win 6-1 in the third set and tie the match up.
Alexandria regained the lead as Landon Schabel won No. 3 singles over Tech’s Emilio Estevez to make it a 3-2 match. That No. 3 singles match went to a third set, but Schabel had the momentum in the end.
The only two matches remaining in the entire match was No. 1 doubles and No. 3 doubles. Tech’s Andrew Plombom and Ben Nelson were heading into a third set against Alexandria, but the Cardinals were able to clinch the needed fourth point at No. 3 doubles.
Alexandria’s Brennan Parker and Tyler Jabas battled back from losing the first set to win the final two sets against Tech’s Jonah Atkinson and Ben Eiynck to win the match for the Cardinals.
Plombom/Nelson won the third set 2-0 after the match was stopped due to the victory for Alexandria and Tech fell 4-3 in the match.
The Tigers team season has come to an end, but a handful of Tech players will compete on Thursday for the section individual tournament. Nelson and Fenstad will be partnered up for the doubles tournament as will the Plombom brothers. Estevez will be competing in the singles tournament.
The Section 8AA boys tennis individual tournament will start at 10 a.m. Thursday at Sartell High School. The quarterfinals are at 10 a.m. followed by the semifinals at noon and the championship at 2 p.m.
Tech vs. Alexandria Results
Singles
No. 1: Michael Plombom (Tech) defeats Jacob Partington (Alexandria) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
No. 2: Gannon Lueck (Alexandria) defeats Gavin Fenstad (Tech) 6-3, 6-4
No. 3: Landon Schabel (Alexandria) defeats Emilio Estevez (Tech) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
No. 4: Aaron Jost (Alexandria) defeats Tomiwa Ajayi (Tech) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1: Andrew Plombom/Ben Nelson (Tech) defeats Pieter Mulder/Owen Gilbertson (Alexandria) 7-6, 5-7, 2-0
No. 2: Max Rud/Ripley Garden (Tech) defeats Andrew Wegner/Dylan Nelson (Alexandria) 6-3, 6-3
No. 3: Brennan Parker/Tyler Jabas (Alexandria) defeats Jonah Atkinson/Ben Eiynck (Tech) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
Other section highlights
Baseball
Section 6AA Quarterfinals
No. 7 Annandale at No. 2 Albany, 5 p.m.
No. 6 Cathedral at No. 3 Royalton, 5 p.m.
Boys golf
Section 8AAA Tournament
Round Two at Rich Spring Golf Club
Team Results: 1. Alexandria 611 (306-305), 2. Moorhead 612 (307-305), 3. Brainerd 625 (305-320), 4. Sartell 638 (315-323), 5. Buffalo 659 (328-331), 6. Bemidji 666 (331-335)
Tech/Apollo, Becker, Monticello, Willmar and Sauk Rapids were all cut for team scores after the first day on Tuesday.
Sartell Individual Results: 1. Logan Hamak 144 (69-75), 2. Lance Hamak 157 (79-78), 3. Logan Carlson 168 (83-85), 4. Mason Lund 172 (85-87), T5. Carson Andel 173 (84-89), T5. Lucas Greenlun 173 (88-85)
Tech/Apollo Individual Results: 1. August Falloon 161 (78-83), 2. Sam Geller 171 (86-85), 3. Brian Streitz 172 (86-86)
Sauk Rapids Individual Results: 1. Collin Fuchs 168 (84-84), 2. Elijah Moilanen 177 (85-92)
Sartell’s Logan Hamak is advancing to the Class AAA boys golf state individual tournament. He finished third at the state tournament in 2019 and will look to improve upon it this season. The tournament will take place at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids from June 15-16.
Girls lacrosse
Section 8A Tournament
No. 11 Sartell/Sauk Rapids at No. 6 Moorhead, 6:30 p.m.
Boys tennis
Section 8AA Team Tournament
Semifinals
Alexandria 4, Tech 3
See story above.
Brian Mozey is the high school sports reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach him at 320-255-8772 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrianMozey.