skip navigation

Expectations Higher For The Improving Netters

By Tom Schardin, 04/14/18, 8:45PM CDT

Share

The Prior Lake boys tennis team is hoping to continue its upward trend.

The Lakers finished with a 10-8 overall mark last year, the first time the program earned double-digit wins since 1994. It was Prior Lake's second straight winning season.

When coach PJ Priest took over Prior Lake's program at the start of the 2011 season, it had just one winning season since 1994. It had been held to three or fewer wins eight times since 2000.

So the program has made big strides the last few years.

The Lakers lost in the Section 2AA semifinals last year for a second straight year, so getting to the title match this spring will be a goal for the team. Prior Lake also wants to contend for the South Suburban Conference title. It finished with a 3-6 league mark last year.

"It will be a touch task, but our depth is our strength," Priest said. "We have for the most part a team of all-season players. Most of the returning players play all season long, which gives us advantage over many teams.

"Our goals are definitely to reach the section finals and compete for the chance to go to the state tournament," Priest added.

Prior Lake returns eight of its top-10 players from last year — senior Aditya Acharya, juniors Jaydon Olson, Matthew Beer, Matthew Riley, Max Hall, Michael Johnson and Riley Rose and eighth-grader Wyatt Crowell. Junior Cooper Danielson also got a little varsity time last spring.

"We always strive to win the conference championship," Priest said. "This year, I believe we have a good shot if we can stay healthy and everyone plays to their potential. It’s not a easy task with such a strong conference, but we have the potential to do great things.

"We have only one senior on the team, so we are fairly young, but seasoned," Priest added. "We could surprise a lot of people."

Last year, Hall and Olson were one set away from qualifying for the Class AA state doubles tournament. They lost a true-second match in three sets in Section 2AA individual play to end up third.

In section team play, Minnetonka won the crown last year en route to winning the Class AA state title. The Lakers fell to Orono in the semifinals. Both of those teams will again be strong section contenders.

In the SSC, Lakeville South and Eastview were ranked in the Class AA top 10 all of last season and they will again be ones to watch.

The Lakers are scheduled to open the season, weather permitting, April 9 at home versus Holy Family. The SSC opener is April 10 at Shakopee. Both matches start at 4 p.m.

Prior Lake is home to Rosemount April 12 in league play at 3:45 p.m.