But the final outcome wasn't indicative of how close the match really was. The Lakers lost two doubles matches in three sets and had a tight match at No. 1 singles.

The runner-up finish is a program-best for the Lakers, eclipsing their third-finish in 2012. Last year, Prior Lake was fourth.

Prior Lake (16-2 overall) won a thrilling semifinal match, edging third-seeded Minnetonka 4-3. It was third straight year the two teams have met in the semifinals with the Skippers winning the previous two 4-3.

"We didn't win state, but it's OK," said Lakers senior Dani Keller. "We all tried our best and our best got us this far. No Prior Lake team has ever made it this far.

"Right up to the end, everyone was fighting so hard," added Keller. "We had a chance."

The Lakers loaded up their doubles to try to beat Edina, knowing they needed to sweep all three matches and hope sophomore Savanna Crowell could get a win at No. 1 singles.

And for a while, it was getting interesting. Edina won in straight sets at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles, while Keller and ninth-grader Taylor Jackson won in straight sets at No. 2 doubles (6-1, 6-3).

So Prior Lake had to win the final three matches to pull off the upset. At No. 3 doubles, senior Alison Wagner and junior Sydney Soeffker won their first set, but dropped the next one. At No. 1 doubles, juniors Chloe Hall and Grayce Petersen were up 4-0 in the third set.

And at No. 1 singles, Crowell was battling, trying to get her match to a third set. She led 5-4 and 6-5 in the second set, but just couldn't close it out. It went to a tiebreaker and Crowell rallied from 3-0 down. It was 5-5 until Edina's Caitlyn Merzbacher was able to get the next two points to clinch the state crown (6-2, 7-6).

With the tension lifted, Soeffker and Wagner ended up falling in three sets (2-6, 6-3, 6-3) and so did Hall and Petersen (6-1, 2-6, 7-6), losing the tiebreaker 8-6.

Keller said the Lakers didn't need to play a perfect match to upset Edina. She added that was the problem for the team in the semifinals the previous two seasons trying to get past Minnetonka.

"That was our struggle the last two years - we felt like we needed to play better, play perfect," said Keller. "And that psyched us out. We learned from that and just played within ourselves."

Against Minnetonka, Wagner and Soeffker had a heart-pounding match at No. 2 doubles. After winning the first set 7-5 and dropping the next one 6-2, a trip to the finals rested on their shoulders in the third set.

Soeffker and Wagner led 4-2, but Minnetonka won the next games. But Wagner and Soeffker kept it together, winning the final two games and the set (6-4).

"That match was so intense," said Keller. "It was fun, but it was so nerve-wracking. Sydney and Alison were able to pull it out."

The Lakers' won in straight sets at No. 2, 3 and singles with Hall (6-1, 6-1), Jackson (6-1, 6-4) and Petersen (6-4, 6-4) winning, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the quarterfinals Oct. 21, the Lakers rolled to a 7-0 win over Princeton.

Singles wins went to Crowell at No. 1 (6-2, 6-0), Hall at No. 2 (4-6, 6-0, 6-4), Jackson at No. 3 (6-2, 2-6, 6-1) and Petersen at No. 4 (6-1, 6-2).

Doubles victories were earned by Keller and seventh-grader Nic Keller at No. 1 (6-0, 6-4), Soeffker and Wagner at No. 2 (6-1, 6-2) and eighth-grader Charlotte Bowles and ninth-grader Lindsey Henderson at No. 3 (6-4, 6-0).

The Lakers will lose just three seniors - Erin Swanson included. So there will be plenty of talent back to make a fourth run at a state berth. Junior Kayla French, who played No. 4 singles in the state final, will also be back next fall with the other nine underclassmen.

Dani Keller is a six-year letterwinner. She's grown with the program. She was the No. 1 singles player in her first two seasons as the team struggled. The Lakers were second in Section 3AA her ninth-grade year and followed with three straight top-four state finishes.

The Lakers have also won four straight South Suburban Conference titles under fourth-year coach Kris Schneider, including 35 straight SSC wins in a row.

"I would have never thought we'd make it this far from my first two years," said Keller. "Our progress has been so incredible. I've been so blessed to be part of this team that has grown so much over the years."

To see more photos of the Lakers in the title match, go to Scoreboard's Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.890360940989257.1073742258.197190936972931&type=3.

For photos of the quarterfinals: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.889633711061980.1073742257.197190936972931&type=3.