Minot High’s McKenna Odahlen won a pair of doubles matches over the weekend in Fargo as the Majettes swept matches against Fargo North and Fargo Davies. Mike Kraft/MDN

The long bus rides to and from Fargo are much more enjoyable following a victory compared to a loss. It’s even better when it’s two victories instead of just one.

That was the case for both the Minot High and Minot North girls tennis teams on Friday, May 9. Both programs picked up a pair of non-conference victories over EDC foes in Fargo. The Majettes (14-0) remained undefeated on the season with a pair of 5-0 victories over Fargo North and Fargo Davies. Minot North edged past West Fargo Horace, 3-2, and bested Fargo South, 4-1. It was the first time both teams have played the 3-2 format this season.

Ava Thuner and Grace Olson were the only two Majettes to play two singles matches. Thuner played No. 1 singles for both, winning her first match of the day over North’s Becca Webb, 6-0, 6-2. She completed the sweep with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Davies’ Sadie Barnett to improve to 13-0 in singles play this season.

Olson claimed her 10th and 11th singles victories of the year, playing at No. 2 singles in both matches. She defeated North’s Brynne Gadberry, 6-1, 6-2, and Davies’ Olivia Sandvik, 6-2, 6-3.

“We were able to throw some different combinations out there,” Minot High coach Scott DeLorme said. “We knew (Saturday’s) format had Kyllie Fettig playing singles and Ava and Grace playing doubles, so we made the call the day before that we were going to put those two in singles just to give them both the opposite of what they were going to play (Saturday). We were able to do that knowing we still have two very strong singles players.”

Sydney Brown got the nod at No. 3 singles against North and cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win against Eva Berg. Ella Sherven played No. 3 singles against Davies and topped Ellery Ames, 6-2, 6-2.

“The nice thing we saw Friday was No. 3 singles with Ella Sherven and Sydney Brown stepping into that spot, because No. 3 singles is kind of one of those spots where we have some options,” DeLorme said. “To see both of them step up and play well in that No. 3 singles spot was probably the highlight of Friday.”

Kyllie Fettig, McKenna Odahlen and Alivia Sherven stuck to doubles. Fettig teamed up with Alivia Sherven against North and took down Isabelle McKay and Lydia Boser, 6-1, 6-1. She partnered with Odahlen against Davies with the same results, besting Mia Hozak and Jaelyn Jackson, 6-3, 6-2.

Odahlen was with Ella Sherven at No. 2 doubles in the opener against North, easily getting past Kenzie Vangstad and Akiko Milligan, 6-0, 6-1. Alivia Sherven and Bristol Bolton were paired together at No. 2 doubles against Davies, winning 6-3, 6-3, against Kuee Park and Delia Sims. Minot High’s doubles teams are a combined 34-3 this year.

“We have so many girls who we can throw at different spots and feel very confident of what we’re going to get out of them,” DeLorme said. “We know we have six girls who are locks to be in our lineup at the end of the year. We are trying to find out who that seventh is going to be.”

The Sentinels (6-5) sported two completely different lineups for their pair of matches. Minot North rolled out a singles lineup of Julia Stoner, Emersyn Kopp and Grace Lee against West Fargo Horace. Lee won the lone match for the Sentinels at No. 3, topping Alyse Aslakson, 6-0, 6-2. Lilia Rexin dropped the first set against Stoner at No. 1 singles before rallying for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 win. The Hawks led following the conclusion of singles play after Katelyn Posl defeated Kopp, 6-2, 6-1.

The Sentinels swept the two doubles matches to win the dual. Addy Clark and Kate Weishaar won their first doubles match of the year with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Joley Larma and Elllie Heilman. Abby Maerk and Alyviah Kopp put Minot North over the top with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Keeley Gilseth and Maiah Fuchs.

Minot North had the match in hand at the end of singles play against Fargo South. Addy Clark, Kate Weishaar and Alyviah Kopp swept their matches, with Weishaar earning her first win of the season with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Savannah Girard Underdahl.

Maerk won her second doubles match of the day, teaming up with Lee to topple Emma Heupal and Ella Bourke, 6-2, 6-4.

“We were very proud of the way our girls went out and played,” Minot North coach Gwen Erickson said. “Getting three wins this week felt good.”

The Sentinels opened the week with a 5-4 victory over Jamestown.

Erickson said that being able to win in the 3-2 format gives the team confidence heading into the postseason.

“Absoultely, and we were down Braxtyn (Bennett) this weekend, so putting her in that lineup allows us to compete even more,” Erickson said.

The West Region won 15 of 20 matches against the East Region. Minot High, Minot North, Jamestown, Bismarck Legacy, Bismarck Century and Valley City went undefeated in their matches.

Minot High and Minot North will share Hammond Park on Tuesday, May 12, in both teams’ final home matches of the regular season. The Magicians play Jamestown at 3 p.m. and the Sentinels take on Bismarck High at 4:15 p.m. It is Senior Day for both programs.