BISMARCK - The Dickinson High tennis team earned its first victory of the season on Thursday, a 5-4 decision at Bismarck St. Mary's.
The Midgets received wins from their Nos. 3-6 players and their second and third doubles teams.
"We lost to St. Mary's last year, so we're super happy we were able to beat this team," head coach Lia Bradley said. "We knew we had to play super tough to beat them, and they came through."
The match came down to senior Jaida Harden's match in No. 6 singles against Saints sophomore Anna Braun. Harden won the first set 6-2, and the players were tied at 4-4 in the second set before Harden won the final two games to give Dickinson the match.
"She had been having a hard time winning that second set because the last two matches she'd go into a tiebreaker and lose it, but today she not only was able to win the second set, but she won us the match," Bradley said.
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Harden also teamed with junior Cora Knipp to win the No. 3 doubles match 6-2, 6-2 over Braun and Maria Fleck. Dickinson sophomores Alexa Cofer and Halie Karlen won the No. 2 doubles match 6-2, 6-4 against Mallory Donlin and Jenna Stiegelmeier.
Cofer won her No. 5 singles match against Fleck 6-4, 6-0 for her first win of the season.
Dickinson's sixth point came from junior Marcail Allerdings, who improved to 4-0 this year with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Stiegelmeier at No. 4 singles.
"That's the same old thing. There she goes, still undefeated," Bradley said. "She had a tough match today, but she battled."
Dickinson High 5, Bismarck St. Mary's 4
Singles: 1, Emily Bichler, SM, def. Katie Riely, 6-2, 6-0. 2, Laura Botsford, SM, def. Halie Karlen, 6-3, 6-2. 3, Mallory Donlin, SM, def. Cora Knipp, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. 4, Marcail Allerdings, DHS, def. Jenna Stiegelmeier, 6-4, 6-1. 5, Alexa Cofer, DHS, def. Maria Fleck, 6-4, 6-0. 6, Jaida Harden, DHS, def. Anna Braun, 6-2, 6-4.
Doubles: 1, Bichler/Botsford, SM, def. Riely/Allerdings, 7-6 (2), 6-1. 2, Karlen/Cofer, DHS, def. Donlin/Stiegelmeier, 6-2, 6-4. 3, Knipp/Harden, DHS, def. Fleck/Braun, 6-2, 6-2.
