Playing in the section semifinals, Park put its seventh seed far in the dust with a gritty 4-3 win over host Visitation Monday to advance to the section finals.

Seeded just seventh after a season of injuries and lineup changes, the Wolfpack played like champions Monday in a grueling match that lasted almost three hours. Park advances to Tuesday’s section championship finals at Fred Wells Tennis Center and a rematch against top-seeded Simley. Simley won a 4-3 decision from Park earlier in the season.

“We’re just finding a way,” said Park head coach Tony Townsend. “That’s the fun thing about section tennis. We never are out, and the kids – we had so much adversity in that match – we’ve been talking about staying in the present point and just keep on working. It’s not over till it’s over and our girls start to have that belief and they start to sneak out those close points, those close games and sets and finally the match.”

The semifinal match came down to the No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles Monday and both were three-set thrillers. Park’s Dana Petrie battled but eventually lost a tough 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (3-7) decision on a tiebreaker.

“Honestly I feel like I won just knowing that we’re going to finals tomorrow,” said Petrie.

Because, just minutes before Petrie’s match ended, on the opposite side of the courts, Park’s Morgan Leick and Luise Meier were winning a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 decision at No. 2 doubles to clinch the match for the Wolfpack.

“I think we came back because we played with a lot of heart,” said Leick. “And every day in practice we do the same thing.”

The added pressure of knowing the match probably came down to them didn’t.

“It made me nervous,” said Meier. “But I think the second set made me very nervous, but the third one, I don’t know. I just wanted to win this. We just had to win this. We were so focuses at the end.”

Park swept the doubles and Kate Townsend won at No. 1 singles (6-4, 6-2) to earn the victory.

Park’s top doubles team of Abby Fjelsta and Hannah Holmgren won 6-4, 6-2. At No. 3 doubles, the Park team of Finley Leick and Jenna Mahnke scored a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

“We have so many different girls that are stepping up in all kinds of different matches and that’s a team effort,” Townsend added. “You want everyone to step up at different times and here we go and it’s just fun,” Visitation won three of four singles matches. Park’s Avrie Morris dropped a decision at No. 2 singles 1-6, 1-6 and Grace Townsend fell at No. 4 singles 0-6, 0-6.

Park opened section play with a 4-3 win over 10th-seeded Rosemount last Tuesday, Oct. 5. The Wolfpack then dominated second-seeded Hastings 5-2 in the second round Thursday, Oct. 7.

Park won the top three singles matches and the top two doubles matches to knock out the Hastings Raiders. None of Park’s top five teams dropped a set.

Winning for Park against Hastings were: Kate Townsend at No. 1 singles (6-1, 6-4), Avrie Morris at No. 2 singles (6-3, 6-3) and Dana Petrie at No. 3 singles (6-1, 6-4). In doubles play Park’s top team of Abby Fjelsta and Hannah Holmgren won (7-5, 6-2) as did the No. 2 team of Lu Meier and Morgan Leick (6-4, 6-4).

Park’s No. 1 doubles team of Abby Fjelsta and Hannah Holmgren won 6-4, 6-2 against Visitation Monday in the section semifinals. Photo by John Molene