MINOT -- The Dickinson High girls tennis team put it together at the right time, and the dividends are paying off.
The Midgets, who got off to a slow start this season, advanced to the North Dakota state team tournament with a 4-1 victory over Mandan in a state-qualifying match at the West Region team tournament Saturday at Cameron Indoor Tennis Center.
"It was nice to get that win to qualify for state because it seems like we always play Mandan in the state qualifier and we can't get past them," Dickinson coach Kristal Fields said. "...The girls were bound and determined when we had our team meeting."
Dickinson left no doubt with its singles play as Tiffany Reisenauer, Chelsey Galipeau and Caitlin Dunn all won in straight sets to clinch the berth.
"They came just roaring out of the gates and took it to them," Fields said. "The matches were fantastic."
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The doubles duo of Reisenauer and Galipeau advanced to the semifinals after receiving a first-round bye and topping Mandan's Katie Koffler and Allison Suda 6-0, 6-1. They clinched a trip to the state tournament with their second-round win and are now playing for position against Williston's Tarren Jundt and Rachel Hennessy today at 11 a.m.
After the trio of Rachael Kelly, Caitlin Dunn and Erika Ridl all won in the first round, only Dunn remains.
Kelly lost her two ensuing matches while Ridl made it a step farther, but fell to Ellen Mueller of Bismarck St. Mary's. Dunn made it all the way through and has a chance to partake in the state singles tournament if she can win today against Mandan No. 1 singles player Kathryn Neubauer.
West Region Team Tournament
Matches Thursday
First round
Bismarck Century 5, Minot Ryan 0
Jamestown 3, Mandan 2
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Minot High 4, Bismarck High 1
Williston 4, Dickinson 1
Second round
Semifinals
Bismarck Century 5, Mandan 0
Williston 3, Minot High 2
Loser out
Jamestown 4, Minot Ryan 1
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Dickinson 4, Bismarck High 1
Matches today
State-qualifiers
Dickinson 4, Mandan 1
Minot 3, Jamestown 2
Championship
Bismarck Century 5, Williston 0
West Region Team Tournament
State qualifier
Dickinson 4, Mandan 1
Singles: 1, Tiffany Reisenauer, Dickinson, def. Kathryn Neubauer, 7-5, 6-2; 2, Chelsey Galipeau, Dickinson, def. Jacey Porter, 6-2, 6-4; 3, Caitlin Dunn, Dickinson, def. Danielle Bauer, 6-3, 6-2.
Doubles: 1, Kayli Bardell/Kelly Long, Mandan, def. Erika Ridl/Rachael Kelly, 6-1, 3-6, 10-8; 2, Sara Anderson, Haley Deibert, Dickinson, def. Katie Koffler/Allison Suda, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
West Region Singles Championships
First round
Rachael Kelly, Dickinson, def. Kelly Long, Mandan, 6-3, 6-3; Caitlin Dunn, Dickinson, def. Bryce Kadrmas, St. Mary's, 6-4, 6-4; Erika Ridl, Dickinson, def. Erin Black, Minot, 6-1, 6-2.
Second round
Musland, Jamestown, def. Kelly, Dickinson, 6-3, 6-3; Oberland, Bismarck, def. Dunn, Dickinson, 6-1, Horner, Century, def. Ridl, Dickinson, 6-1, 6-1.
Loser-out
Second round
Ridl, Dickinson, def. Erickson, Minot, 6-3, 6-1; Dunn, Dickinson, def. Long, Mandan, 6-2, 6-4; Kadrmas, St. Mary's, def. Kelly, Dickinson, 6-4, 6-3;
Third round
Mueller, St. Mary's, def. Ridl, Dickinson, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6; Dunn, Dickinson, def. Olson, Minot, 6-0, 6-2;
Matches today
Semifinals
Welk, Century, vs. Porter, Mandan; Oberlander, Bismarck, vs. Horner, Century.
Loser-out
Dunn, Dickinson, vs. Bauer, Mandan;
West Region Doubles Tournament
First round
Tiffany Reisenauer/Chelsey Galipeau, Dickinson, bye; Katie Rubbelke/Kristin Rubbelke, Ryan, def. Sara Anderson/Haley Deibert, Dickinson, 6-2, 6-2.
Second round
Reisenauer/Galipeau, Dickinson, def. Koffler/Suda, Mandan, 6-0, 6-1;
Loser-out
Montgomery/Eckmann, Minot, def. Anderson/Deibert, Dickinson, 6-1. 7-6 (7-4);
Quarterfinals
Reisenauer/Galipeau, Dickinson, def. Neubauer/Bardell, Mandan, 6-4, 6-2;
Matches today
Semifinals
Jundt/Hennessy, Williston, vs. Reisenauer/Galipeau, Dickinson, 11 a.m. CITC; Thomas/Pearson, Minot, vs. Goodin/Bosch, Century, 11 a.m., CITC.
