The Hastings Raiders girls tennis team wrapped up an impressive week on the courts, capped by Brooklyn and Reese Keller punching their ticket to the state tournament for the fourth straight year.
The Section 3AAA individual tournament opened Friday, October 10, and finished Monday, October 13, at the Baseline Tennis Center at the University of Minnesota. Six Raiders made the trip to Minneapolis, all with one goal in mind, to earn a return visit for the state tournament on October 23.
Singles competitors Wills Nelson and Emery Hedeen both turned in their strongest performances of the season. Nelson battled hard after a rough first set, dropping 6-0 to Park of Cottage Grove’s Camilla Brooks, but pushed deep into the second before falling 7-5. Hedeen’s sets were a bit more even, 6-3 and 6-2, showing consistent poise and determination throughout. Both players fought for every point and left it all on the court.
In doubles play, Hastings had two pairs, Brooklyn and Reese Keller, and Sophia Johnson and Evy Hogan. Johnson and Hogan drew a tough first-round matchup, falling 6-0, 6-1 to Eastview’s Natalie Brown and Abby Boentje. The Eastview team was later eliminated by the Two Rivers duo of Olivia Kanavati and Amelie Williams, setting up what would become a key matchup for the Kellers later in the tournament.
The Kellers’ journey through the bracket was as dominant as it was efficient. In round one, they took down Eastview’s Ellery Wilbur and Kaatje Degrote, 6-2, 6-0. The second round brought East Ridge’s Camilla Osuna and Saahithi Maddurkuri, but the result was even more decisive, a 6-0, 6-0 sweep. The semifinal against Park’s Olivia Evans and Chloe Newhouse went much the same way, 6-1, 6-0, earning the sisters a well-deserved rest day before Monday’s championship.
When the final match arrived, the Raiders’ top duo faced Kanavati and Williams from Two Rivers. The outcome was never in doubt. Brooklyn and Reese controlled every rally, firing precise serves and crisp volleys en route to a 6-0, 6-0 victory. The entire match wrapped up in under an hour, sealing another section championship for the Kellers and a return trip to the state stage.
Overall, the pair went 48-3 in individual games through the section bracket, showcasing not just their dominance, but their discipline and teamwork. Now, their attention shifts to state, the one title still waiting to be claimed after finishing fourth last year.
The Individual State Tournament begins Thursday, October 23, at 8 a.m. at the Baseline Tennis Center. A morning win would send them into round two at noon. The semifinals follow on Friday, October 24, at 8 a.m., with the championship set for 11:30 a.m.