Decorah Vikings Girls Tennis Punch Ticket to Team State

Our Driftless region deserves more than postcards — it deserves a watchdog. Be that support. DECORAH — The Decorah girls tennis team entered Saturday's regional final riding high after back-to-back 5-0 sweeps over Charles City and Western Dubuque. Confident singles play and lineup depth carried the Vikings into their Sept. 27 showdown with Wahlert Catholic on their home courts—a match that would decide which team advanced to the state tournament. The Vikings hit the courts bright and early Saturday morning for their state-qualifying match against Wahlert Catholic. They arrived focused and ready for a battle against a talented opponent. First off the court with a point for the Vikings was No. 1 singles player Olivia Huinker, who defeated Claire Mier 6-0, 6-1. The second point came from No. 6 singles player Myla Leitz, who worked through early nerves to earn a commanding 6-2, 6-0 victory over Charlie Kiefer. "Both girls were dialed in and knew exactly what to do to stay in charge of each game they played," Coach Huinker said. "They played with confidence and composure." Dual-sport athlete and No. 4 singles player Dylin Thompson showed her competitive edge in a gritty match against Sophie Thier. After dropping the first set 3-6 and falling behind 0-3 in the second, Thompson battled back to take the set 6-4 and then dominated the match tiebreaker 10-2. "It was so amazing watching Dylin fight back like she did — what a testament to her mental strength and resiliency," Coach Huinker said. "Even more impressive was that Dylin went straight from celebrating our win to the gym, where she helped her volleyball team secure a huge victory over Western Dubuque." Thompson's comeback secured the Vikings their third team point. Almost immediately after, No. 5 singles player Addie Maki secured another point. Maki took her first set against Paige Henry 6-0. "In the second set, the momentum changed a bit, and Addie had to navigate that in addition to a nagging injury that flared up," Coach Huinker said. "I'm really proud of her grit and the strength it took to fight back from 3-4 in that second set to close it out 6-4." Maki's win stretched the team score to 4-0. Alternate Alynne Brandel stood ready throughout the match to step in at No. 3 doubles if Maki's injury required relief. Though she didn't take the court, Brandel's encouragement from the sidelines provided important support to her teammates. At No. 3 singles, Kaitlyn Bjork fell to Nisha Knoeru 0-6, 4-6. Bjork pushed hard in the second set, rallying from 1-4 before narrowly falling short. "After the match was over, I stressed to Kaitlyn how she needed to focus on what she did well in that second set — how she pushed and battled back and didn't give up," Coach Huinker said. "Her presence on the court mattered for her teammates. The longer she stayed out, the more positively that impacted her teammates." Bjork's loss made the team score 4-1. Last out on the court was undefeated No. 2 singles player Grace Huinker, matched up against fellow undefeated Claire King. Grace took the first set 6-3 and continued her strong play in the second, winning 6-1. Her victory clinched the team's regional championship. "As her mom, I couldn't hug Grace hard enough after that match—it was a battle, and Grace's victory was a testament to her growth as a player and person," Coach Huinker said. "As her coach, I can say that Grace's execution was perfect. She knew she'd have to play smart, and she did. Her shot selection and point setups were impressive." Adding to the energy of the day, many JV players, parents and community members were on hand to cheer the team. Their encouragement kept the Vikings' spirits high and helped build their confidence, especially during crucial moments of the match. What's next for Decorah? Individual qualifiers Olivia and Grace Huinker (doubles) and Bjork (singles) will travel to Iowa City for the individual state tournament Oct. 1-2. As for the team, the future is still to be determined. While the Vikings have officially punched their team state ticket, a seeding meeting will be held Sunday, Sept. 28. Team rankings will determine their first-round opponent at team state in Pella on Oct. 6. Winners of all first-round matches will advance to a second match that same day, with the finals and third-place match set for Oct. 7. Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.