Single-minded about doubles

A year after Edina girls' tennis players Megan Gaard and Emily Warner won the Class 2A doubles championship and helped Edina to its 10th consecutive team championship, the tandem is back for more this week. Gaard and Warner, both seniors, cruised through the Class 2A, Section 6 tournament, never losing a set. They open state competition at 10 a.m. Friday against Delano's Kelly Rensink and Abby Farniok at the U of M Baseline Tennis Center. The Star Tribune's Brian Stensaas talked with Gaard and Warner about this week's tennis, which will also include a search for an 11th consecutive team title.

Q After winning state last year, were you any more pumped for this season?

Gaard I think since Whitney Taney [undefeated in her high school career] is gone, people weren't expecting us to do as well as we have this year. And I think that was motivation for us. We're looking for another state title.

Warner I was. This is our senior year, and you know that after losing Whitney there were a lot of doubts. We still have such a strong team. Our third doubles team could probably do well against most other teams' No. 1 doubles team.

Q How about for you at doubles?

Gaard Definitely. We're excited at having another crack at it. We've been working really hard, because we know we have this giant target on our back. We just have to come out and play like champions.

Warner I was really excited for this doubles season. The year before last we didn't make [state], and we were so ready last year with nothing to lose. And now we're back.

Q What are your thoughts heading into this week?

Gaard It's looking pretty good. We know we can't look ahead to the finals already because we have some great teams coming up. But we're ready to go out there and enjoy all of it.

Warner It will be a lot of tennis, but if we play well we'll be hard to beat. We'll be ready. Megan and I haven't played a whole lot because she's done some singles. But we know that in the heat of the moment we'll come together and play well.

Q You're both seasoned doubles players. Does playing doubles come easier to you?

Gaard Just playing together so long, we're confident. We have this great chemistry. We kind of know where we're going to be on the court, even if we're not communicating verbally. Doubles is so different than singles. There's a lot of strategy.

Warner I prefer doubles a lot more. I've never played a singles match in high school. I really don't have the singles training all the time because I play three sports.

Q You defeated fellow Edina doubles teams last year for the state championship and this year for the section championship. Is that tough to take?

Gaard It's hard, it really is. It's very underrated. It's emotional because you want them to do well, but you're competing for yourself. But you have to go out there and play the ball, not look who's on the other side of the net.

Warner It's actually not that weird. It's fun; you're almost more competitive. It's a good experience.

Q Does defeating a teammate make it any better or worse at the end?

Gaard All Edina teams are pretty good, so if you've won you know you've done a good job. We were excited this year because even though we defeated [Shehan Ghanchi and Maria Bryan] for the [section] title, they still get to go to state.

Warner It's bad that you have to beat your teammate. But when you're off the court, it's like nothing happened. No one holds a grudge. It's like you never played the match.

Q How much does you knowing a teammate's strategy come into play in a situation like that?

Gaard We use the same strategy no matter who we're playing. But you will know a teammate's strategy and tendencies because you practice with them every day. So unfortunately, you use that against them a little bit.

Warner It correlates. They know all the things we do, and we know what they do. But if you think of it like that all the time, it's hard. It can get in the way, and I think it should just come off instincts more.

Q Anybody who knows Minnesota high school tennis knows about Edina tradition. Do you take pride in being a part of that?

Gaard It's so awesome. Everybody wants to be a part of it, and that's what makes it so special. We all want to win using that passion and competitiveness. There's so much pride in putting on that jersey.

Warner It will be great to look back and know you were a part of all of it. It shows your hard work. Some people wonder how it happens -- we put in hard work. We go hit late in the evening. If you work hard, things come with it.