The Packers will have someone participating at the first state tournament of the fall season.

Thursday, October 21, 1999

The Packers will have someone participating at the first state tournament of the fall season.

That someone is sophomore tennis player Laurie Alonso.

Alonso took second place in the Section 1AA individual tennis tourney at the Rochester Athletic Club Wednesday.

She, of course, had the most success of a very successful six-player Austin contingent participating in the tournament..

Alonso’s fellow singles player, freshman Amy Kelly, finished in fourth place, while the two doubles teams – senior Amber Dolphin and sophomore Emily Bue, and the sophomore duo of Mindy Neilon and Chelsea McColley – finished third and fourth, respectively.

"It was great that everyone made it to the semifinals," Austin coach Deb Hoyt said. "We were the only school that accomplished that feat."

In the singles, it was a contest of Mayo Spartans and Packers in the semifinals. Alonso defeated Abby Kalland of Northfield 6-0, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. Amy Kelly beat Abby Souders of Rosemount 7-6 (6-3), 6-2.

In the semis, Alonso faced and beat the top Mayo player throughout the regular season, eighth-grader Caitlan Laprinzi. The score was 6-4, 6-0. Alonso had lost twice to Laprinzi earlier this season.

"Laurie was real calm," Hoyt said. "She learned a little more each time she played her. She mixed it up, hitting it long and short and using her slice."

Alonso then lost to Mayo’s Jeanine Cascino, 7-5, 6-0, in the finals. Cascino had beaten Kelly 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals. Kelly then lost to Laprinzi, 6-1, 6-2, in the third-place match.

Alonso’s first round opponent in the state tournament will more than likely be the top player in the state, Jeanette Cluskey of Edina. Cluskey is the defending state champion.

The match takes place next Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the Hiway 100 North France Racquet, Swim and Health Club in Brooklyn Center.

In the doubles Neilon and McColley, defeated Kate Jacobsen and Steph Kill of Rosemount 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.

"They lost to them a couple of weeks ago in the team sectionals," Hoyt said. "It was a nice rebound victory."

In the semifinals, they were beaten by the eventual champions Lara Fischer and Molly Olson of John Marshall, 7-5, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Dolphin and Bue defeated Jordan Anderson and Cassie Thilmany of Winona 6-2, 7-5 in their quarterfinals match. In the semis, they went up against Mayo’s Stacia Thompson and Beth Erie. They lost 6-2, 7-5.

In the third-place match it was Dolphin and Bue beating Neilon and McColley for the second time in a week. The scores were 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.