Girls tennis: Riders win individual titles

FARGO -- No one's complaining about Shirlene Luk's smile. Her Grand Forks Red River tennis coaches just think she does it too much.

But when you stop and think about it, there's plenty for Luk and anyone involved for the Red River girls tennis program to smile about. Red River captured another East Region title on Thursday at Courts Plus, then watched Mimi Yunker repeat as singles champion and Luk and Lalangi Marasinghe repeat as doubles champs Saturday.

"I think last year and this year were both hard," Luk said. "Last year, I was pressured because my partner had already won and I didn't want to disappoint her and this year everyone was expecting us to win."

Expecting to win might be an understatement. Red River has dominated the region and the state having won every state title since 2002. It was even said during the awards ceremony by the emcee about Red River's dominance, "It's almost inevitable."

Red River already had the singles title wrapped up since Yunker, last year's region champ, was facing teammate Samantha Anderson, the defending state champ. Luk and Marasinghe completed the sweep by beating West Fargo sisters Cassie and Sammie Smith in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.

Luk and Marasinghe dominated at the net and were able to win most of the contested points.

"It was an on the fly thing," Marasinghe said about landing the tough shots against the Smiths. "And we did our best to place the ball and keep it in."

As for Yunker, she kept the ball in play and managed to keep Anderson moving in a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Yunker was at her best when Anderson would try to play a drop shot and Yunker would recover by speeding up to the net and finding the right place to put her shot.

Anderson, who lost to Yunker last year in the region finals, shined at times, but also had some unforced errors.

Yunker showed emotion but was more reserved than Anderson. Until she won. From there, she was all smiles.

Knowing there was a possibility they could meet in the finals, Yunker said she and Anderson really didn't discuss it leading up to the tournament.

"I think when we play each other and one of us beats the other one, there is that awkward moment," Yunker said. "But we'll wait until we reach a point where the loss isn't so fresh and from there we go back to the way we were before we even played."

N.D. East Region

Individual play

Singles

Semifinals

Yunker, RR, over Lim, RR, 6-0, 6-2; Anderson, RR, over Moe, FS, 6-2, 6-4

Championship

Yunker, RR, over Anderson, RR 6-2, 6-4

Third place

Moe, FS, over Lim, RR, 6-3, 6-3

Consolation state qualifying

E. Jacobson, FN, over L. Jacobson, FN, 6-0, 6-2; McGuigan, FD, over Christensen, WF, 6-0, 6-2; Olson, WF, over Bassach, WF, 6-2, 6-0; Wanzek, FD, over Regimbal, GFC, 6-3, 6-1

Consolation semifinals

E. Jacobson, FN, over McGuigan, FD, 6-1, 6-2; Olson, WF, over Wanzek, FD, 6-2, 6-2

Fifth place

Jacobson, FN, over Olson, WF, 6-3, 6-0

Seventh place

Wanzek, FD, over McGuigan, FD, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4

Doubles

Semifinals

Luk/Marasinghe, RR, over McGuigan/Lawley, FS, 6-1, 6-1; Smith/Smith, WF, over Diederich/Diederich, FS, 6-3, 6-2

Championship

Luk/Marasinghe, RR, over Smith/Smith, WF, 6-2, 6-1

Third place

McGuigan/Lawley, FS, over Diederich/Diederich, FS, 6-3, 6-3

Consolation state qualifying

Caoili/Relling, RR, over Larson/Lutjens, VC, 6-0, 6-2; Stock/Broton, WF, over Irsfeld/Nichols, Sh., refusal to play; Nystrom/Wessman, FN, over Keelin/Fletcher, Sh., 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; Thompson/Bjorlie, FN, over Koppang/Sween, GFC, 6-3, 6-0

Consolation semifinals

Stock/Broton, WF, over Caoili/Relling, RR, 6-3, 6-3; Thompson/Bjorlie, FN, over Nystrom/Wessman, FN, 6-1, 7-6 (5)

Fifth place

Stock/Broton, WF, over Thompson/Bjorlie, FN, 6-4, 7-5

Seventh place

Caoili/Relling, RR, over Nystrom/Wessman, FN, 6-4, 6-1

All-conference team

GF Red River: Samantha Anderson, Mimi Yunker, Shirlene Luk, Lalangi Marasinghe; GF Central: Shelby Regimbal; West Fargo: Cassie Smith, Sammie Smith, Sarina Olson; Fargo South: Karen Moe, Brittany Diederich, Rachel McGuigan; Fargo North: Emily Jacobson, Kayla Bjorlie; Fargo Davies: Janelle Wanzek, Laura McGuigan

Senior Player of the Year: Rachel McGuigan, Fargo South

Coach of the Year: Chad Anderson, West Fargo