Minot North’s Kate Weishaar goes to return a shot during her match with Dickinson’s Morgan Daley at Hammond Park on Tuesday, April 14. Mike Kraft/MDN

Not all wins are created equal.

Likewise, not all losses are created equal. There are times where a loss can still produce the same good thoughts and emotions that come from winning.

That was the case for coach Gwen Erickson and her Minot North girls tennis team in their WDA opener against Dickinson on Tuesday, April 14, at Hammond Park. While the Sentinels dropped a 5-4 contest to the Mavericks, it was a night-and-day difference from their conference matchup a year ago where they were swept across all nine singles and doubles contests.

“I’m very, very happy with how it went,” Erickson said. “Our girls went out there and definitely gave it their all right from the start and it’s paying off.”

The Sentinels (1-2 overall, 0-1 WDA) split their six singles matches with Dickinson, putting the result of the match in the hands of the three doubles matches. Dickinson would prevail, winning two of the three contests. Shayna Klitzke and Grace Dazell topped Addy Clark and Kate Weishaar, 7-6 (2), 6-1, in No. 1 doubles, and Morgan Daley and Erin Daley won in straight sets over Julia Stoner and Emersyn Kopp, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 2 doubles. Braxtyn Bennett and Alyviah Kopp delivered Minot North its lone doubles victory with a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Natalia DeLange and Ashlee Freeman.

“I’m super proud of the way our girls played today,” Erickson said. “With it being tied at 3-3 after singles, I was really proud of the way our doubles teams went out and competed.”

Along with their victory together in doubles, Bennett and Alyviah Kopp both added singles victories as well. Bennett fell behind early in her match with DeLange, but regrouped quickly to secure a straight-set victory, 6-3, 6-4. Alyviah Kopp played the lone three-set match of the day. The sophomore won the opening set 6-1, but dropped the second set 4-6 to Freeman, setting up a winner-take-all third set, which Alyviah Kopp cruised to a 6-1 victory to take the match.

“(Alyviah) getting a win was important because it was tied 3-3 going into doubles,” Erickson said. “Our girls were excited and definitely went out and gave it their all.”

Stoner’s match had far less drama, as the freshman was in control throughout her match. She dropped just four sets in her match, defeating Dazell, 6-2, 6-2. Stoner and Alyviah Kopp have both started the season 2-0 in singles play.

“We’re kind of the underdog and it’s nice to get some wins and get going as a team,” Stoner said. “We have a really good team dynamic and it feels nice.”

Among those picking up singles victories for the Mavericks (1-0, 1-0) was Klitzke – the reigning WDA individual champion and state runner-up. Klitzke looked in midseason form despite Tuesday being her first match since the state championship match against West Fargo Sheyenne’s Sarea Gu in May 2025. She defeated Clark, 6-1, 6-1.

“I was going for my shots and trying to stay confident even with nerves,” Klitzke said.

Klitzke admitted that there are some nerves that come from last season’s results, but is confident in her game and the improvements she’s made during the offseason, which included being more consistent and aggressive.

“I would say there is definitely pressure there, but if I just keep playing my game and how I’ve been doing, I think I’ll be able to keep doing well,” Klitzke said.

Going up against the top singles player in the WDA and one of the best singles players in the state is quite the challenge, which is why Erickson is less concerned about the overall result of the match and more so focused on Clark’s effort in those instances.

“Addy has played her many, many times, so I don’t have to give her too many pointers on her actual game, but it is hard mentally going against someone that is that skill level,” Erickson said. “We just tell Addy to go out there and compete and give it her all and at the end of the day if she did her best that’s all that matters.”

Morgan Daley and Erin Daley were also victorious in singles play for the Mavericks, besting Weishaar and Emersyn Kopp, respectively.

Through just three matches so far this season, Erickson said she can already see a vast improvement in her team’s mental approach.

“I have seen them be able to battle back,” Erickson said. “Last year, we’d get down and it would be very hard for us to get back and I’ve seen girls get down and battle back or just consistently play their best and that is a huge improvement from last year.”

Tuesday’s match was the first time the Sentinels took their game outdoors. Whether it was practice or matches, Minot North has been forced indoors to begin the year. But on Tuesday, the echoes of racquets making contact with tennis balls inside a quiet Cameron Indoor Tennis Center were replaced by the sounds of birds chirping and cars passing by. The sun even made an appearance.

The Sentinels will again get to experience playing outdoors when they host Minot High on Wednesday, April 15, at Hammond Park at 2 p.m.