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May 27—GRAND FORKS — Greg LaDouceur needed someone to fill in at No. 2 doubles during the East Region tournament.
He called upon senior Brielle Larson, who had only played in three varsity matches in her career.
"I was pretty impressed by the way she played in her three matches," LaDouceur said. "So, we threw her in there at the No. 2 doubles spot."
The East Region title came down to her match.
Larson and Kalli Block won 6-2, 6-3 to clinch Red River's first region championship since 2017.
It was fitting for this Roughriders team.
Red River, without an East Region singles title contender and with little postseason experience, has surprisingly climbed to the top of the Eastern Dakota Conference thanks to its depth.
It will be a contender to win its first state title since 2017 on Thursday, when Choice Health and Fitness hosts the state team tournament.
"It's been really fun," said senior Addy Lommen, who has played varsity since eighth grade. "I never thought from when we started — we didn't make it to state for three years — I never thought we would get close to winning an EDC title as a team."
Lommen has held down the No. 1 singles spot this season, while fellow seniors Maddie Nelson and Naomi Rahman have been regulars. Other top players include sophomore Elizabeth Kilgore, sophomore Lauren Endres, freshman Ruby Schneider and freshman Kali Block.
Red River, which finished sixth at state last season, enters state with a 13-1 mark. Its lone loss was 5-4 to West Fargo Sheyenne in the regular season. The Roughriders avenged that loss with a 3-2 victory over Sheyenne in the East Region team tournament.
"I definitely knew we were going to be a strong team," Nelson said. "I knew our depth was there. We have a lot of good players on our roster. I knew we would do pretty well. I'm very glad of how it ended up in EDC."
Red River won 14 straight team titles from 2002-15. It added another in 2017 for its 15th title in 16 years.
But those titles are distant memories for the current players.
"It was definitely before my time," Nelson said. "I hear stories about the streaks they had. It's pretty insane."
Red River hasn't gotten past the first round at state in seven years. It will try to do so against Mandan at 10 a.m. Thursday.
"It's so much different than the dominant years we've had in the past," LaDouceur said. "Last year was their first experience at state. To be a part of the state tournament was something they were very excited for. Now, for them to win the conference championship, it's something they talked about. They said, 'Hey, we haven't put a number on one of those banners in the gym in a while. Now, we get to do that.'"
The other top contenders at state are Minot (19-0), Sheyenne (17-3), Fargo Davies (12-6), Bismarck Century (16-4) and Bismarck Legacy (14-7).
"I think it will be fun," Lommen said. "Last year, we had a good showing. We got sixth. It's better than nothing. I think we'll stand a good chance against the West teams. We'll see."
Lommen and Schneider took third in the East Region doubles tournament and will be the top Grand Forks seed in the individual tournament, which runs Friday and Saturday. Kilgore and Endres are the East's No. 5 seed.
Lommen's game peaked in the East Region tournament, where she played singles in the team tournament and doubles in individuals.
"She was very smart," LaDouceur said. "She played great defense. Her defense led to her offense. We talked a lot about that: Wait out her points, pick the right time. She has great hands when she wants to utilize them. She was hitting the ball hard, cutting it short, her lobs were on."
Nelson, the East's No. 6 singles seed at state, beats her opponents through patience. She won a 124-shot rally in the East Region tournament.
"Maddie is the player nobody really likes to play, because she gets everything back," LaDouceur said. "She's very patient. She hits the ball with some pace and places it very well."
Rahman also qualified as the No. 8 seed from the East in the singles tournament.
Grand Forks Central did not qualify as a team, but three individuals made it.
Hawi Lemu will take the East's No. 5 seed into the state singles tournament. Alli Wilhelmi and Stella Blue are the East's No. 4 doubles team.
Where: Choice Health and Fitness.
Thursday's quarterfinals: GF Red River (East No. 1) vs. Mandan (West No. 4); Bismarck Century (West No. 2) vs. Fargo Shanley/Oak Grove (East No. 3); Minot (West No. 1) vs. Fargo Davies (East No. 4); WF Sheyenne (East No. 2) vs. Bismarck Legacy (West No. 3), 10 a.m.
Semifinals/championship: Approx. 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Individual tournament: Friday-Saturday.
GF Red River individual qualifiers: Maddie Nelson (East No. 6 singles), Naomi Rahman (East No. 8 singles), Addy Lommen-Ruby Schneider (East No. 3 doubles), Elizabeth Kilgore-Lauren Endres (East No. 5 doubles).
GF Central individual qualifiers: Hawi Lemu (East No. 5 singles), Alli Wilhelmi-Stella Blue (East No. 4 doubles).
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He called upon senior Brielle Larson, who had only played in three varsity matches in her career.
"I was pretty impressed by the way she played in her three matches," LaDouceur said. "So, we threw her in there at the No. 2 doubles spot."
The East Region title came down to her match.
Larson and Kalli Block won 6-2, 6-3 to clinch Red River's first region championship since 2017.
It was fitting for this Roughriders team.
Red River, without an East Region singles title contender and with little postseason experience, has surprisingly climbed to the top of the Eastern Dakota Conference thanks to its depth.
It will be a contender to win its first state title since 2017 on Thursday, when Choice Health and Fitness hosts the state team tournament.
"It's been really fun," said senior Addy Lommen, who has played varsity since eighth grade. "I never thought from when we started — we didn't make it to state for three years — I never thought we would get close to winning an EDC title as a team."
Lommen has held down the No. 1 singles spot this season, while fellow seniors Maddie Nelson and Naomi Rahman have been regulars. Other top players include sophomore Elizabeth Kilgore, sophomore Lauren Endres, freshman Ruby Schneider and freshman Kali Block.
Red River, which finished sixth at state last season, enters state with a 13-1 mark. Its lone loss was 5-4 to West Fargo Sheyenne in the regular season. The Roughriders avenged that loss with a 3-2 victory over Sheyenne in the East Region team tournament.
"I definitely knew we were going to be a strong team," Nelson said. "I knew our depth was there. We have a lot of good players on our roster. I knew we would do pretty well. I'm very glad of how it ended up in EDC."
Red River won 14 straight team titles from 2002-15. It added another in 2017 for its 15th title in 16 years.
But those titles are distant memories for the current players.
"It was definitely before my time," Nelson said. "I hear stories about the streaks they had. It's pretty insane."
Red River hasn't gotten past the first round at state in seven years. It will try to do so against Mandan at 10 a.m. Thursday.
"It's so much different than the dominant years we've had in the past," LaDouceur said. "Last year was their first experience at state. To be a part of the state tournament was something they were very excited for. Now, for them to win the conference championship, it's something they talked about. They said, 'Hey, we haven't put a number on one of those banners in the gym in a while. Now, we get to do that.'"
The other top contenders at state are Minot (19-0), Sheyenne (17-3), Fargo Davies (12-6), Bismarck Century (16-4) and Bismarck Legacy (14-7).
"I think it will be fun," Lommen said. "Last year, we had a good showing. We got sixth. It's better than nothing. I think we'll stand a good chance against the West teams. We'll see."
Lommen and Schneider took third in the East Region doubles tournament and will be the top Grand Forks seed in the individual tournament, which runs Friday and Saturday. Kilgore and Endres are the East's No. 5 seed.
Lommen's game peaked in the East Region tournament, where she played singles in the team tournament and doubles in individuals.
"She was very smart," LaDouceur said. "She played great defense. Her defense led to her offense. We talked a lot about that: Wait out her points, pick the right time. She has great hands when she wants to utilize them. She was hitting the ball hard, cutting it short, her lobs were on."
Nelson, the East's No. 6 singles seed at state, beats her opponents through patience. She won a 124-shot rally in the East Region tournament.
"Maddie is the player nobody really likes to play, because she gets everything back," LaDouceur said. "She's very patient. She hits the ball with some pace and places it very well."
Rahman also qualified as the No. 8 seed from the East in the singles tournament.
Grand Forks Central did not qualify as a team, but three individuals made it.
Hawi Lemu will take the East's No. 5 seed into the state singles tournament. Alli Wilhelmi and Stella Blue are the East's No. 4 doubles team.
Where: Choice Health and Fitness.
Thursday's quarterfinals: GF Red River (East No. 1) vs. Mandan (West No. 4); Bismarck Century (West No. 2) vs. Fargo Shanley/Oak Grove (East No. 3); Minot (West No. 1) vs. Fargo Davies (East No. 4); WF Sheyenne (East No. 2) vs. Bismarck Legacy (West No. 3), 10 a.m.
Semifinals/championship: Approx. 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Individual tournament: Friday-Saturday.
GF Red River individual qualifiers: Maddie Nelson (East No. 6 singles), Naomi Rahman (East No. 8 singles), Addy Lommen-Ruby Schneider (East No. 3 doubles), Elizabeth Kilgore-Lauren Endres (East No. 5 doubles).
GF Central individual qualifiers: Hawi Lemu (East No. 5 singles), Alli Wilhelmi-Stella Blue (East No. 4 doubles).
Continue reading...
