Valley City 6-0. Still on top of the EDC.

The Hi-Liners welcomed Fargo North to town on Thursday and walked off the courts with their sixth straight win, 8-1, holding the top spot in the Eastern Dakota Conference standings.

“Valley City controlled over 76% of total games and won nearly 89% of all sets, including a doubles sweep and eight sets decided by five games or more.”

From the opening serve, Valley City controlled the match with depth, experience, and a level of consistency that Fargo North simply couldn’t match.

It starts at the top—and that’s where Valley City separates. Georgia Zaun set the tone at No. 1 singles, dictating points all afternoon in a decisive 6-2, 6-0 win. Right behind her, Kailee Nielson and Skye Nielson were just as dominant, each rolling to straight-set shutouts or near shutouts. When you can run out three players with No. 1-caliber experience at the top of your lineup, you’re not just good—you’re structurally difficult to beat. That’s exactly what Valley City is right now.

The middle of the lineup showed toughness and growth. Lexi Svenningsen delivered one of the grittiest performances of the day, bouncing back from a 1-4 deficit in the second set to close out a 7-5 win—pure resolve under pressure. Kinlee Sufficool, in just her sixth match ever, continued to turn heads with a 7-5, 6-1 win, using effort and consistency to wear down her opponent. That’s not luck—that’s early-stage development accelerating fast.

Doubles is where this team might quietly be separating even more. Coach Nielson mixed the lineup, and it paid off immediately. Skye Nielson and Sufficool dominated at No. 1 doubles, dropping just two games, while Kailee Nielson and eighth-grader Cambrie Westman were equally sharp at No. 2. Sara Beierle and Rylyn Johnson provided the exclamation point with the most clutch moment of the day—fighting back from 0-40 while serving for the match and ripping off four straight points to seal it. That’s poise you can’t fake.

The only blemish came at No. 6 singles, where Westman battled through a tight three-set match before falling 10-7 in the super tiebreaker. But even there, the takeaway isn’t the loss—it’s the trajectory. Her footwork, consistency, and willingness to finish points at the net are improving fast. That’s a problem for opponents down the line.

Now comes the real test—not of talent, but of endurance and focus. A loaded week ahead includes Fargo South, Grand Forks Central, a doubleheader with Dickinson and Mandan, and the East-West Tournament in Fargo. Depth wins weeks like this. Valley City has it—but now they have to prove they can sustain it.

Bottom line: this isn’t just a hot start. This team is built to stay on top.

🔢 Match-Level Dominance

Matches won: 8 of 9 (88.9% win rate)
Sets won: 16 of 18 (88.9% of all sets)

Results (VC listed first)

Final: VC 8, FN 1

Singles

Georgia Zaun def. Becca Webb — 6-2, 6-0
Kailee Nielson def. Lillia Mason — 6-0, 6-0
Skye Nielson def. Isabelle McKay — 6-1, 6-0
Lexi Svenningsen def. Lydia Boser — 6-4, 7-5
Kinlee Sufficool def. Kenzie Vangstad — 7-5, 6-1
Cambrie Westman lost to Brynne Gadberry — 5-7, 6-4, 10-7

Doubles

S. Nielson / Sufficool def. Webb / Mason — 6-1, 6-1
K. Nielson / Westman def. McKay / Boser — 6-1, 6-0
Beierle / Johnson def. Vangstad / Milligan — 6-2, 7-5

The Week Ahead

Tuesday — at Fargo South
Thursday — home vs. Grand Forks Central
Friday — home double header, starting at 9 AM vs. Dickinson and Mandan
Saturday — East-West Tournament in Fargo (all day)

Photos Courtesy: Alyssa Thompen Photography

VC Tennis - Remains Undefeated