Century standouts Frechette, Aney advance to Class 2A semifinals

Officially, the state's two top-ranked Class 2A girls' tennis players have faced each other only once this season.

In reality, though, senior Kelsey Frechette, the defending 2A state champion, and last year's runner-up, eighth-grader Jessica Aney, have squared off nearly every single day. It's just been in practice, as teammates for Rochester Century.

"We definitely keep each other sharp and ready to play," Frechette said. "It prepares us for the big matches."

That's good for Frechette and Aney, not so much for the rest of the field in Thursday's 2A singles championship at the University of Minnesota's Baseline Tennis Center.

Neither Century girl dropped a set in her opening match in advancing to Friday's semifinals.

Frechette -- whose only loss on the year was to Aney in three sets in last week's Section 1 final -- did so in convincing fashion. However, Aney needed a grueling second-set tiebreaker to knock off third-ranked Melanie Yates of Mounds View 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) in the quarterfinals.

"I had to play my best to beat her," Aney said.

The Century girls hope their experience -- from practice, that is -- will help set up a rematch of last year's state final.

"Every day [in practice] we hit against one of the best players we'll face," Frechette said. "It definitely makes a difference."

In doubles, freshmen Kate Rosenow and Kylie Boyer of Rochester Mayo made quick work of their opponents and head into Friday's semifinals with some momentum.

"We don't have anything to lose," Rosenow said. "I think we can do really well."

Boyer -- playing with a different partner -- finished as the runner-up in doubles last year.

"I'm kind of used to the state tournament now," she said with a laugh.

Washington entered Thursday's Class 1A singles tournament with five state titles to her name (four in doubles, one in singles) and is looking to make history as the state's first six-time champion.

She's off to a good start. Washington blitzed through her two opening matches and easily advanced to Friday's semifinals, where she will face Kaytlin Kuefler of Annandale.