DICKINSON — The Dickinson Midgets appeared comfortable in their home victory over Bismarck St. Mary's on Tuesday. The match was secured before moving into doubles, but the Midgets continued in their good form, winning the match 7-2. It was their final home outing and also their last regional match of the season, ending 4-4 in the Western Dakota Association, in the middle of the pack.
The team's skills are impressive, but their mental strength has been another defining quality for the young Midgets team, led by their only two seniors. Co-captain Rachel Dazell said to the Press after the match that their team is more than capable of turning heads and will make a run for state qualifier.
“It felt good to win, setting a 4-4- record to give us a better place for regional," Dazell said. “I think some of the key things was staying consistent and keeping our head up while we were making mistakes ... As a senior it can be hard when are starting to lose a match, but I think taking it one point at a time and realizing it is more than just the match you are in, but it is about your team."
No. 1 Valeria Bradley set the tone for Dickinson, winning by way of a golden match (6-0, 6-0) against Gabbie Mann. This season, Bradley has won seven of her eight singles matches, as has freshman Shayna Klitzke.
Klitzke defeated her opponent, senior Kennedy Mertz, in two sets (6-2, 6-1) and also defeated her in doubles, partnering with fellow freshman Morgan Daley.
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Daley won her singles match 6-2, 6-1, earning two wins for the day. Senior Julianne Kadrmas and junior Emma Stillings also secured victories, with Stillings having one loss in her singles record as the Midgets' No. 6.
Dazell was the odd one out, losing to Abigail Bahl, but only after a hard-fought match with the first set ending 7-5, the highest possible outcome before going into a tiebreaker.
Moving into doubles, Dazell has been as much of a leader as she is a big sister, playing with her eighth-grade sister, Grace Dazell. Unfortunately, the siblings fell after two sets (6-2, 6-4).
“It is really cool and a lot of fun, but sometimes it is a little bit frustrating playing with your sister when she doesn't listen to you," Rachel Dazell said, with a chuckle in her voice. "At the same time I think it is really nice and its also nice for our parents, they can just watch one court.”
Klitzke and Daley, the Midgets' No. 1, vanquished their opponents, facing the Saints' very best, with a 7-5, 6-2 match.
Bradley and Stillings continue their unblemished partnership with a 4-0 record, defeating the Saints' No. 2 team in a 6-1, 6-2 match.
Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, Dickinson will be traveling eastward for a two day , West versus East style tournament. On Friday, they will face Valley City, Fargo and Wahpeton.
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