Class 2A and 1A singles finals end with routs

Her expression rarely changes, her demeanor even less.

Even her eyes, for many the truest giveaway of disposition, are no help, remaining impassive no matter how taxing the circumstances.

But make no mistake: Aria Lambert is focused. Her outward appearance is by design, intended to give no advantage to an opponent who might use it against her.

And, as far as high school tennis goes, it works every time.

The Minnetonka sophomore completed an undefeated season with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 rout of Eden Prairie junior Makenna Borg and won the girls' tennis Class 2A singles title Saturday at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis.

Lambert controlled the match from the outset, dictating the pace and playing nearly error-free. That forced Borg to adopt an offensive approach, trying to hit winners on every shot.

In other words, Borg had no chance.

"She never misses, and she's really smart and really consistent," said Borg, whose three losses this season have all been to Lambert. "I knew the only way I could win was to be aggressive. I had to go for it on every shot."

Lambert finally showed a slight crack in her armor when she lost her serve on the next-to-last game of the match. But she rebounded and clinched the victory, breaking Borg on four consecutive points.

"I used to get more mad on the court when I was younger," Lambert said. "But I found that, if you show emotion on the court, your opponent can take advantage of it. I was still nervous out there, I just try not to show it."

The USTA lists Lambert as the No. 1-ranked girl under 16 years old in the Northern Region, which encompasses Minnesota, North and South Dakota and northwestern Wisconsin.

She plays a dizzying schedule of national tournaments, leading to a No. 49-ranking in the nation for her age group. Despite all of her success, Lambert said Saturday's victory was the highlight of her tennis career.

"This has been the best year I've had in tennis," she said, breaking into a smile rarely seen on the court. "My team took third [in the Class 2A team tournament], and I won the championship. I can't wait to come back next year. It's been so much fun."

In the Class 2A doubles final, Rochester Mayo's Emily Renault and Annemarie Ryu defeated Maria Bryan and Caroline Ward of Edina 6-2, 6-4. It was the second consecutive doubles championship for Renault, a junior who won the title last year while teamed with Erin Kappers.

When it comes right down to it, there really wasn't any other fitting way for the Class 1A tournament to end.

Rochester Lourdes senior Alexa Palen made short work of Staples-Motley junior Abby Edin in the singles final, winning 6-0, 6-0 in a match that took about 40 minutes to complete.

Palen's victory was no surprise -- she has not lost a singles match since the state tournament of her sophomore year -- but it was significant nonetheless.

The youngest of the tennis-mad Palen family, Alexa's victory marked the 19th state championship for the clan since 1997, when Rochester Lourdes won its first Class 1A team title.

There has been a Palen on every Lourdes' team champion during that run, which is now at 11 titles in the past 12 years.

The Palens also have won eight individual titles -- five in doubles and three in singles with Alexa's victory.

"I just hope we've left a good name," Alexa said. "It's been really cool being a part of Lourdes tennis. It's been a special time. Hopefully, we've left it in good hands."

The Class 1A doubles title went the Mounds Park Academy's Amber Washington and Katie Roach, who beat Danielle Munsterman and Mallory Shellum of St. James 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.