Addison Armstrong stretches to return a ball in a match earlier this season. Armstrong won her opening round match at the State Tournament before falling to the No. 1-seeded Isabelle Einess of Breck. The loss to Einess eliminated Armstrong, a junior, from the tournament.

Blue Earth Area’s Addison Armstrong and Olivia Dutton got an early start to their day on Thursday, Oct. 27, when she stepped on to the tennis courts at the Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis to begin play in the Class A State Tennis Tournament.

Armstrong and Dutton had qualified for the State competition by finishing first and second, respectively, in the Section 2A tournament.

Armstrong, who brought a record of 21-2 into the tourney, squared off against Pine City’s Addison Sell in her first round match. Sell finished her regular season with a record of 20-10.

Armstrong only lost one game in the opening set of their match. Her 6-1 win left her needing to win one more set to move on to the second round of the tourney.

Sell played better in the second set but Armstrong ultimately prevailed by winning the set 6-4.

Armstrong, the Section 2A champion, won the match in straight sets 6-1, 6-4.

Armstrong’s victory sent her into the second round where she faced the No. 1-seeded Isabelle Einess of Breck.

Einess won her first-round match 6-0, 6-0 over Annika Harbets of Providence Academy and began the tournament with a perfect 18-0. She finished in second place at last year’s competition.

Einess did not lose a game in defeating Armstrong 6-0, 6-0.

The loss eliminated Armstrong, a junior, from the tournament.

Dutton, who brought a 22-2 record into the tournament, faced off against Chloe Brandt of Le Sueur-Henderson in her first-round match. Brandt came into the tourney with a record of 18-5.

It was Brandt who advanced to the second round by defeating Dutton 6-3, 6-3.

Dutton moved on to the consolation round where she faced Ronnie Noska of Staples-Motley.

Noska, an eight grader, began the tournament with a 28-2 record but was defeated in the opening round by No. 2-seeded Ryann Witter of Rochester Lourdes by a 6-0, 6-1 score.

The match between Dutton and Noska would turn into a down-to-the-wire battle with Noska winning the first set 6-3.

However, Dutton fought back to take the second set 6-2 and set up a third set super tiebreaker.

Unfortunately for the BEA junior, Noska was able to seal the victory by outpointing Dutton 10-7 in the final set. The loss eliminated Dutton from the tournament.

“Addison and Olivia both had amazing seasons. The growth each player showed from the beginning of the season to the end of the season was phenomenal.” BEA head coach Spencer Monson said. “Even though they lost the first day, they both showed they belonged at the tournament. It was cool to see two girls from our small community competing in the State Singles Tournament. I look forward to what they will bring to the courts next year.”