FAIRMONT – The Fairmont Cardinals tennis team dropped its overall record to 1-1 in the early season after dropping a 7-0 Big South Conference dual-meet decision to the New Ulm Eagles on Monday at Cardinal Courts in Fairmont.
“They’re a tough team,” Fairmont head coach Eric Johnson said. “I thought we played very well, but we couldn’t put together three or four points to win enough games.”
The Cardinals won their share of games, but they couldn’t get the service break when they needed it.
In four singles matches, the Cardinals lost each in straight sets, but won 24 matches in eight sets.
Fairmont’s Jack Hagen and Dominic Lund-May lost in identical 6-3, 6-3 set results to Mav Johnson and Ben Brownfield, respectively, at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Hagen and Lund-May hit their share of winners, but not enough to prevent a total loss.
Fairmont’s Noah Vetter had the most singles success, winning seven games during a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Thomas Schwartz at No. 3 singles.
In No. 4 singles spot in the lineup, the Cardinals’ Anthony Stegge lost a 6-2, 6-3 decision to the Eagles’ Keenan Davis.
Fairmont’s Carter Quist and Olivia Ortega played a good match at No.
Quist and Ortega have the same dilemma as Hagen and Lund-May, getting more points from well-placed shots or strong serves, but the duo of Janesen and Walad have more winners and serve points break they need to win the game.
The No. Fairmont’s 2 doubles duo of Tyler Slama and Sebastian Castro had the most match wins in any of the seven spots in the lineup, but lost a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Rylan O’Neill and Aaron Black. in No. 3 double.
Wylee Frederiksen and Simone Castro lost to Joey Kotten and Gideon Hines, 6-2, 6-1. Frederiksen and Simone Castro were the last Fairmont varsity team to play on the courts.
“They (the Eagles) have more experienced players and they get the big points when they need it,” Johnson said. “We were in our games, but they got the breaks in the games that we couldn’t get.”
Fairmont (1-1) hosts Pipestone Area at 4:30 pm today at Cardinal Courts in Fairmont, while New Ulm (4-1) hosts Worthington at 4:30 pm today. The two upcoming dual meets are Big South Conference contests.
New Ulm 7, Fairmont 0
Single Brackets
• Mav Johnson (NU) def. Jack Hagen, 6-3, 6-3.
• Ben Brownfield (NU) def. Dominic Lund-Mayo, 6-3, 6-3.
• Thomas Schwartz (NU) def. Noah Vetter, 6-3, 6-4.
• Keenan Davis (TODAY) def. Anthony Stegge, 6-2, 6-3.
Double Bracket
• Nathaniel Janesen-Leo Walad (NU) def. Carter Quist-Olivia Ortega, 6-3, 6-3.
• Rylan O’Neill-Aaron Black (NU) def. Tyler Slama -Sebastian Castro, 6-4, 6-4.
• Joey Kotten-Gideon Hines (NU) def. Wylee Frederiksen-Simone Castro, 6-2, 6-1.