Girls tennis: State trip is sweet as ever for Mayo

Do they ever get bored with this?

After all, this is the 19th year in the last 20 that the Rochester Mayo girls tennis team has done this.

But bored? No, not even close. Mayo wants to keep this tradition— winning Section One, Class AA championships — forever. The carrot at the end of that stick is too much to resist.

Section titles equal state tournament trips. And for the Spartans, it doesn't get any better than that.

"The state tournament is so fun, and the atmosphere is so great," Mayo senior Elena Cattaneo said

Mayo will make the state trek once again, as it romped past formidable Owatonna 7-0 in the title dual Tuesday at the Rochester Athletic Club. That came after beating Lakeville South 6-1 in the semifinals. Owatonna blasted Northfield 7-0 in the other semi.

Adding to Mayo's appreciation for state is the experience it had in 2012. That's when it was denied getting there for the first time in 17 years. Rochester Century beat Mayo that season in the section finals.

Spartans No. 1 doubles player Cattaneo was on that team, her first year with the Mayo varsity.

"When we didn't go that year, it was a reality check for all of us," Cattaneo said. "I wasn't even born when Mayo had first started its dynasty (19 years ago). But after that, I think we all started taking things more seriously. We knew we had to start working harder then and playing year-round. Part of that was because we never knew anymore what was going to happen."

Cattaneo also makes the point that you never know what's going to happen once you get to state. Mayo won't be favored to win a title. But then again, upsets happen. They had one happen two years ago when they downed No. 3 state seed Prior Lake 5-2 in the consolation finals. Mayo was the fourth seed.

If Mayo continues to play like it did Tuesday, it figures to make some noise.

There was an edge and sharpness to the Spartans.

"We came in a little bit nervous, but that is good," Cattaneo said. "I think we all played really, really well. My doubles partner (Natali Sorajja) and I played as well as we have all year. We didn't allow our opponents to breathe."

Those Owatonna opponents were Amanda Bloomquist and Ellie Lauderdale. Cattaneo/Sorajja prevailed in a rout, 6-2, 6-2. Mayo won all four singles matches in straight sets, including Jessica Marmorstein, Emma Trncic and Emily Norman combining to lose just three games between them. Amalin Sorajja won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 singles. Remarkably, all four of those Spartans singles players are freshmen.

So yes, this Mayo girls tennis dynasty doesn't have the look of ending anytime soon.

Every year, longtime Spartans coach Dave Edwards has the same reaction to his team qualifying for state.

"The longer you do this, it's almost more relief than jubilation when we qualify for state," Edwards said.

Mayo takes a 16-2 record to state, which is Oct. 27-28 at the University of Minnesota's Baseline Tennis Center.

SEMIFINALS

Mayo 6, Lakeville South 1

Singles: Jessica Marmorstein (M) def. Riley Lalim 6-2, 6-0; Emma Trncic (M) def. Katie Sourbeck 6-0, 6-0; Emily Norman (M) def. Halle Gill 6-0, 6-1; Amalin Sorajja (M) def. Cora Anderson 6-1, 6-0. Doubles:Elena Cattaneo/Natali Sorajja (M) def. Amanda Bloomquist/Ellie Lauderdale 6-1, 6-1; Alex Poeschla/Mia Thompson (M) def. Abbey Bloomquist/Elizabeth Moring 6-2, 6-1; Sarah Mirrill/Jenna Hayes (LS) def. Cara Viswanatha/Kailee Johnson 6-1, 6-4.

Owatonna 7, Northfield 0

CHAMPIONSHIP

Mayo 7, Owatonna 0

Singles: Jessica Marmorstein (M) def. Tessa Rahrick 6-0, 6-0; Emma Trncic (M) def. Macey Tellijohn 6-0, 6-1; Emily Norman (M) def. Emily Rahrick 6-1, 6-1; Amalin Sorajja (M) def. M. Schuler 6-3, 6-2. Doubles:Elena Cattaneo/Natali Sorajja (M) def. Millie Wanous/Paige Janka 6-2, 6-2; Alex Poeschla/Mia Thompson (M) def. Gabi Deml/Caitlin Anderson 7-5, 6-2; Cara Viswanatha/Kailee Johnson (M) def. Macy Voss/Alissa Weide 6-2, 4-6, 10-4.