Full strength Eagle tennis rolls over Blue Earth Area

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Jimmy Vancura and Josh Hillesheim's returns to varsity tennis Thursday stirred things up, and with Blue Earth Area's youth added to the mix, the Eagles pulled off their first South Central Conference win, 6-1.

Vancura and John Christensen, seniors, teamed up for No. 2 doubles to beat BEA freshman Jak Willette and eighth grader Grant Holmseth 6-2 and 6-0. Christensen had been playing No. 4 singles up until Wednesday, so it was the pair's first time playing doubles together, outside of Wednesday's practice.

"They looked a little rusty, but they played better and looked stronger as the day went on," New Ulm coach Joe Poncin.

Vancura was happy being out on the court again, and now looks to work on gaining more confidence -- something with which their win Thursday helped.

"I felt we really intimidated them at the net," Vancura said -- a statement to which Christensen agreed. "We took advantage of their age."

Hillesheim's match did not go as well. He took on BEA seventh grader Logan Becker at No. 4 singles and lost 6-1 and 6-0. However, Poncin was quick to point out that not only had he recently returned after breaking his wrist the first day of practice this year, but it was also his first appearance on varsity.

That loss was the only one that the Eagles took in the meet.

At No. 1 singles, junior John Hildebrandt again took a win in two sets, beating freshman Joe Kuechenmeister 6-4 and 6-0.

The two had never before played each other, as BEA graduated six players last year -- a year in which New Ulm beat the Bucs for the first time in 34 years.

Both players felt that they were not at the top of their game.

Hildebrandt has been having some troubles with his backhand -- a problem that had disappeared Monday and Tuesday, but reappeared in the match against Kuechenmeister.

Kuechenmeister's problems Thursday were in his serve, something he considers to be the best part of his game.

"The turning point was when it was 4-4, and I broke his serve," Hildebrandt said. "After that he double-faulted the whole game. He just lost it."

At No. 2 singles, New Ulm freshman Phil Dirlam beat freshman Justin Frey in the closest match of the day, winning the first set 6-3, dropping the second one 7-5, and winning the third 6-2.

In the second set, Dirlam felt he wasn't playing up to his potential, but in the third set, he pulled it together.

"He was very consistent with his shots and getting his serve in," Dirlam said. "I just told myself I was going to win. I knew I could, so I went out and did it."

New Ulm junior Joel Runck also won 6-1 and 6-4 over BEA freshman Jordan Becker.

On the doubles side, Jay Smith and Matt Sprung beat BEA sophomore Ty Mastin and freshman Iain Johnson 6-1 and 6-4, and at No. 3 doubles, Michael Maki and Conrad Wachter beat eighth grader Matt Schultz and seventh grader Dalton Moore 6-2 in both sets.

The Eagles (2-5, 1-2) play today at Shakopee, whom they beat 4-3 when Shakopee came to New Ulm. BEA is now 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the SCC.