Girls tennis: Litchfield has an easy state quarterfinal

Oct. 27—MINNEAPOLIS — Litchfield is ready to make the most of its opportunity.It has been oh-so-close to winning its first state title two years in a row.Tuesday, the Dragons put themselves one match away from the state championship.Litchfield opened the Class A state tournament with a 6-1 win against unseeded Pequot Lakes at InnerCity Tennis. It is the second seed — the highest seed in its three-year stretch at state."We have worked really hard for this," Litchfield senior Emma Wuotila said. "It's nice to see our hard work pay off and guarantee us a spot in the semifinals for a third year in a row."Wuotila and the Dragons play third-seeded Breck, which beat unseeded Thief River Falls 5-2, in the state semifinals at 10 a.m. Wednesday at InnerCity Tennis.Other quarterfinals featured fifth-seeded Foley earning a 4-3 win over fourth-seeded Lake City and top-seeded St. James, the defending state champion, collecting a 6-1 win over unseeded Morris/Chokio-Alberta/West Central Area. Foley and St. James play at 8 a.m. Wednesday."It's fun to know that we made it to the second day — that we've made it past this first round with our team," Dragons senior Isla Dille said. "We always say stay positive because we're already here, so there's no pressure. I think we play well in the first match because of that."Litchfield certainly showcased its appetite for another deep state run.All six points of the Dragons' points were taken in straight sets.And it was the doubles teams who swept for the Dragons.Elise Carlson and Molly Patten, Mya Iverson and Brynn Nagel, and Kalie Ball and Tayah Damerow teamed up in their doubles victories.Also for Litchfield, Dille, Wuotila and junior Marcella Bruning won at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles.Briella Eggert got Pequot Lakes on the board with a No. 4 singles win against Sloan Quinn."It's a lot of fun to be here, especially because most of us are seniors," said Nagel, who is one of five seniors in Litchfield's lineup. "We're just really grateful to be with our team."Now, the Dragons will spend the night refueling for an ever so important Day 2 where they will seek its first state championship in school history."We get to go out to eat, have a fun night and then lock in for tomorrow," Dille said.