Tennis wins opener

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- It probably wasn't the way Matt Sprung and Jay Smith wanted to start their season at No. 1 doubles, but the two will take it.

Sprung and Smith struggled with their shots in the first set and made several errors that allowed the Redwood Valley tandem of David Sandvold and Josh Okins to stay in the hunt for the win. But the two adjusted late to win the first set 6-4, then cruised to a 6-0 win in the second set Monday in prep boys tennis action.

New Ulm won the match 6-1.

"We need a little work, but we won, so you can't ask for much more," Sprung said.

Sprung's baseline shot off the second serve put New Ulm up 3-0 in the second set.

"We were just putting the shots in," Sprung said. "We were hitting the ball where they weren't and we were letting them make the mistakes instead of trying to put a game winner in every time."

In the fourth game, Redwood Valley went up 40-30, but a smash by Sprung at the net brought the game to deuce, and New Ulm won to go up 4-0.

"We're both trying to get to the net, and we both play well up there, but it's just a matter of getting up there," Sprung said.

"We were trying to mix it up and put a couple down the alley so they couldn't poach all the time on us," Sprung said. "We were trying to step up on their second serve and be a little more intimidating."

At No. 2 singles, Joel Runck had little problem with Devan Blaine.

Blaine struggled with Runck's first serve the entire match and was unable to get much of a serving game down. Runck attacked Blaine's second serve, especially in the second set, to win 6-0, 6-0.

"At first I was a little nervous -- you know, the first match of the season -- but I relaxed and played the percentage and went from there," Runck said.

"What I did on the second serve, it came up short so I took it as an approach shot, which is an offensive shot," Runck said. "I gained a lot of points that way."

Runck said he felt better in the second set and experimented with his first serve more.

"It was better in the second set," Runck said. "I just put a little more spin on my first serve to get it in more. He had trouble returning my first serve, so I had to use that to my advantage."

John Hildebrandt won by forfeit at No. 1 singles and Phil Dirlam had New Ulm's only loss at No. 3 singles, falling 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Adam Johnson had a convincing win at No. 4 singles, defeating Tanner Baune 6-0, 6-1.

In doubles action, Michael Maki and Conrad Wachter won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles and Josh Hillesheim and Josh Schneider won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.

"It was a good way to start the season," New Ulm coach Joe Poncin said. "The kids put fourth a nice effort and were rewarded with a win."

In JV action, Devan Burghardt and Tom Oberle won 6-2 and Brendan Meier and Jarrod Wiggins won 6-3. Scott Hansel and Jeff Runck won 6-3 and Kyle Murphy and Brad Kosel lost 7-6 (7-5).

New Ulm (1-0) hosts Mankato West Monday.