The Minnetonka girls' tennis team will begin its quest to return to the state tournament when it opens up section 2-2A play this week. The Skippers took third place at last year's state tournament and are hoping to make it back this year for a chance to upset perennial state power Edina.
"We're ranked second or third in the state right now depending on who you talk to," Skippers head coach Dave Stearns said. "We're hoping and expecting to go to state and things are looking good for that right now."
The Skippers have had some time to tune up their game as they concluded their regular season schedule back on Sept. 24 when they defeated Hopkins 7-0.
"Hopkins is a little down this year - they graduated a lot of players last year so it wasn't a typical Hopkins team," Stearns said. "The Hopkins match is the first match where I've had my entire team. We've had some injuries, but fortunately we've been able to win without everybody in the lineup."
The leader of the Skippers' lineup is junior Aria Lambert, who is the defending Class 2A individual champion.
Lambert has been unbeatable this season, and she recorded her team's only victory when it faced No. 1 ranked Edina during the regular season.
"Aria is one of those specially talented players, and she's raised the level of her game up this year," Stearns said. "She's made an adjustment on her forehand, and she's hitting it bigger and better than ever this year. Her backhand is one of the best I've seen."
Lambert is followed in the Skippers' singles lineup by Jessa Richards at second singles, Heather Abzug and third singles, and Bri Smith and fourth singles.
Richards is considered to be one of the top 15 singles players in the state and took her match against Edina's Adele Henke to three sets earlier this year.
The Hornets and Skippers could meet in the state semifinals should both teams get that far.
If a rematch does occur at the state tournament, the Skippers would need some help from their doubles lineup in order to upset the current state champions.
"The doubles matches were close when we played Edina," Stearns said. "But our doubles teams did not perform anywhere near their ability that day."
The Skippers will play their first round section match on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at home at 3:45 p.m.
The section champion will be crowned on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Gustavus Adolphus College.
The section is made up of 15 teams and split into north and south brackets. The teams in section include Buffalo, Chanhassen, Chaska, Delano, Eden Prairie, Hutchinson, Mankato East, Mankato West, Marshall, Mound Westonka, New Ulm, Orono, Shakopee and Willmar.
The Skippers beat Eden Prairie in last year's section final and could see the Eagles again in this year's final.
"We beat Eden Prairie 5-2 this year and that was without Jessa at No. two singles due to an injury," Stearns said. "We never get overconfident, but we feel like we match up pretty well against them this year."
The individual section tournament will begin on Oct. 17 in Lakeville. Lambert will be a huge favorite to advance through the singles draw and return to defend her title at the state tournament.
"She's tournament tough so she doesn't give away points," Stearns said. "She does so many things well. She knows when to continue a point and she knows when to close out a point."
