Mayo, Lourdes will both play for state girls tennis titles

On October 25, Rochester girls tennis history is on the verge of being made in an unprecedented way. Both Mayo and Lourdes have advanced to the state championships, with matches beginning at 4 p.m. The Spartans will be competing at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center, while the Eagles will be at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center.

Should Mayo secure the Class 2A title and Lourdes triumph in Class 1A, it would mark the first time in the city’s history for a dual state girls tennis sweep.

Mayo displayed a dominant performance in the morning’s semifinals, crushing the No. 5-seed Maple Grove with a score of 6-1. In the state title match, the Spartans will face either Edina (No. 2 seed) or Minnetonka (No. 3 seed). Mayo has already defeated both teams twice this year, with scores of 6-1 and 5-2 against Edina and 7-0 and 5-2 against Minnetonka. The Spartans enter the championship with a perfect 25-0 record.

Lourdes, on the other hand, is aiming for its second consecutive state girls tennis title and 15th championship overall. With a clean sweep in singles, Lourdes secured a 5-2 victory over St. James. Caroline Daly, Elyse Palen, Erin Witter, and Taylor Elliott were all victorious in straight-sets. Taylor Seelhammer and Ellie Leise also contributed with a win at No. 2 doubles.

Lourdes (29-16) will compete against the winner between No. 2 seed Blake and No. 3 Pine City in today’s state championship. Notably, this marks Lourdes’ 29th consecutive year in the state tournament and Mayo’s 26th appearance in the last 27 years.

—At U of M’s Baseline Tennis Center

SEMIFINALS

Mayo 6, Maple Grove 1

Singles: Claire Loftus (M) def. Maddie Larsen (MG) 6-0, 6-2; Aoife Loftus (M) def. Summer Ode 6-0, 6-0; Malea Diehn (M) def. Megan Parker 6-0, 6-0; Ana Medina (M) def. Rylee Toms 6-0, 6-0. Doubles: Nandini Iyer/Keely Ryder (M) def. Char Bakke/Amelia Larsen 6-1, 6-3; Peyton Weigelt/Lexi Helmer-Jahnke (MG) def. Diane Meunier/Bergen Jacob 6-2, 4-6, 10-4; Charlotte Colby/Audrey Aney (M) def. Livia Walseth/Addison Doherty 6-1, 6-2.

—At Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center

SEMIFINALS

Lourdes 5, St. James 2

Singles: Caroline Daly (L) def. Keyana Haler 6-1, 6-0; Elyse Palen (L) def. Elizabeth Shores 6-0, 6-0; Erin Witter (L) def. Maya Kulseth 6-1, 6-1; Taylor Elliott (L) def. Lily Ciske 6-1, 6-0. Doubles: Allison Bluedorn/Alexis Brekken (SJ) def. Molly Suino/Katherine Sieve 6-2, 6-4; Taylor Seelhammer/Ellie Leise (L) def. Dani Trapero/Mykela Hanson 6-2, 6-3; Alivia Romsdahl/Ellie Anderson (SJ) def. Kaydra Quimby/Ashley Wagester 6-3, 6-1.