Pugh heading to state tennis tournamentFinishes second in Section 2AA

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PETER -- New Ulm High School sophomore Jenny Pugh got all the tennis she wanted and then some Tuesday at the Section 2AA Girls Tennis Individual Tournament at Swanson Tennis Center at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Displaying a variety of skills that baffled her opponents much of the day, Pugh defeated Katie Flor of Waseca 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals; upset the southern division's top seed -- Breck Rolfsrud of Mankato East -- 6-4, 6-0 in the semifinals before 27-8 Cortney Dirks of St. Peter -- the top seed in the Northern Division -- topped Pugh 6-4, 6-1 for the section championship.

Pugh, 18-9, advanced to the state tennis tournament next week in the Twin Cities.

Pugh's off-speed returns had the hard-hitting Dirks out of her game in the first set. Pugh led 3-1 in the first set before Dirks won two games to tie the score, 3-3.

Dirks hit the ball hard while serving and volleying. She has been known to break racquet strings and rackets themselves, if they were strung tightly, her parents said. Between points, she was constantly checking her racquet face for broken strings.

Up 4-3, Pugh trailed 40-love in the next game before uncorking an overhead slam at the net to pull within 40-30. Dirks won the next two games to win 6-4.

Despite many long volleys, Dirks went up 5-0 before a second set break.

New Ulm Coach Pat Reedy recalled his conversation with Pugh during the break.

"She told me she wasn't going to leave with a zero and she battled back, which is just like her," Reedy said.

Pugh's late game win came after many long volleys, deuces and add-in and add-out situations. She nearly won another game before Dirks prevailed for the section title.

After facing three opponents Tuesday, Pugh said she was ready for a nap when she returned home.

Pugh had kinds words for Dirks.

"She's a great player. She'll win some matches at the state meet," Pugh said.

Reedy said he was more than pleased with Pugh's performance.

"It isn't often a sophomore advances from a bracket loaded with seniors," Reedy said. "One nice thing about the state trip is we'll be going with the St. Peter team. We're great friends, not adversaries."

In the semifinals, Pugh trailed Rolfsrud 2-0 in the first set before using a lob and forehand smash to win the third game. She charged the net several times, using cut shots and forehand and backhand overhead smashes to climb back into contention.

Pugh showed no visible emotion while Rolfsrud, a senior, got upset at times. Pugh fanned herself with a towel during breaks, admitting she had felt the stuffiness of a head cold coming on.

"She battles and has few mental lapses," Reedy said after Pugh disposed of Rolfsrud.

Pugh called her first set win "a battle of consistency." She dominated much of the second set.

Using overhead smashes, cut shots and net rushes, Pugh gradually pulled away from Waseca's Flor in the semifinals.

"Jenny and Flor, both sophomores, have improved greatly since last year with maturation and tons of hard work," Reedy said. "Jenny played steadily and confidently today."