By Journal Sports Staff

MARQUETTE — The coach of the Marquette Senior High School boys tennis team could only marvel at the excellence of Negaunee’s boys tennis team as it finished off an undefeated dual-meet season against the Redmen on Monday.

The Miners posted an 8-0 victory, losing just one set as both teams prepare for conference meets later this week.

“Hats off to Negaunee for finishing their regular season undefeated,” Marquette head coach Karl Thomsen said. “Coach (Kyle) Saari has a pretty special team this year and it is impressive the focus those boys have had since Day 1.

“I’ve probably said it before, but that is the type of program we are hoping to build here in Marquette.”

Thomsen was encouraged by his doubles teams, particularly the No. 4 duo of Abe Kentala and Connor State that extended the Miners’ Brandon Borlace and Ethan Harris to three sets before falling 6-0, 3-6, 6-0.

“Despite the loss, I continue to like what I’m seeing on the doubles side of things,” Thomsen said. “All four of our teams bettered their scores from when they played Negaunee a couple of weeks ago.

“Specifically, at No. 4 doubles Abe Kentala and Connor Stade had things clicking and took a set off of Brandon Borlace and Ethan Harris. To my knowledge, it is the first set all year the Negaunee duo has lost.”

He was also pleased with Chase Thomsen, who filled in at No. 1 singles on Monday as he fell to the Miners’ Luke Syrjala 6-0, 6-4.

“Chase Thomsen … had a match that was arguably a lot closer than the score indicates,” Coach Thomsen said. “More importantly, Chase was able to execute some strategies he has been working on against one of the top players in the U.P.”

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.