Several times during Brooke Urzendowski’s No. 1 singles match Thursday, the Omaha Marian junior’s returns struck the top of the net.

And, as if the two-time defending Metro Conference champion needed any help, the ball would pop up and drop across the net, far out of the reach of opponent Alex Schelble’s racket.

Each time, Urzendowski looked sheepishly at her opponent and said, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s kind of a cheap shot, and I had a lot of those today,” Urzendowski said. “The court liked me today, I guess. It’s just courtesy to say ‘sorry.’ ”

Urzendowski defeated Millard West’s Schelble 6-2, 6-2 to win her third consecutive Metro No. 1 singles crown.

Her effort helped Marian secure the team victory with 46 points. Omaha Westside was second with 25 points, and Millard West followed with 24.5.

Urzendowski lost a total of just seven games in her four Metro Conference tournament matches.

Also aiding Marian’s cause was its No. 1 doubles team, which upset the top-seeded duo of Breanna and Lauren Keller of Westside.

After the teams split the first two sets, Marian’s Kara Scheule and Katherine Nelsen jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the match’s final frame.

Last year’s state runners-up came back to make the score 5-4, but the Crusaders won the final two games to take the title.

Scheule and Nelsen had lost to the Keller twins previously three times this year.

“I think our earlier losses to them really made us stronger,” Nelsen said. “We were just trying to stay really positive so we could get our minds off of the negative points.”

Just a few courts away, Marian also claimed the No. 2 doubles title.

Caroline Nelsen and Hylan Miller beat Papillion-La Vista’s Caley Johnson and Selby Krska 6-2, 6-2.

Nelsen and Miller didn’t lose a set during the tournament.

Millard West’s third-place finish was fueled by Emma Schelble’s victory in the No. 2 singles final.

Schelble kept Marian from completing the Metro sweep by edging reigning No. 2 singles champ Jessie Koraleski 6-3, 7-5.

“It feels great to win,” Schelble said. “Jessie’s tough, and I had to come out with my best stuff to beat her.”

Now the attention of the players turns to next week’s state tournament.

The Metro honors are nice, but for most players, a state title is the true goal, especially for Urzendowski as she pursues her third straight state crown.

“Obviously, I’ll celebrate. It was a good win,” Urzendowski said of Thursday’s victory.

“But I’m sure after the weekend, I’ll focus again on state.”

• Team scoring: Om. Marian 46, Om. Westside 25, Mill. West 24.5, Mill. North 23, Om. Central 19, Papillion-La Vista 18, Mill. South 9, Om. Burke 8.5, Papillion-La Vista South 8.5, Bellevue West 6, Bellevue East 4, Om. Benson 0, Om. Bryan 0, Om. North 0, Om. South 0, Om. Northwest 0.

• No. 1 singles: Championship: Brooke Urzendowski, Marian, def. Alex Schelble, Millard West, 6-2, 6-2. Third place: Alexandria Tran, Central, def. Alexis Thoma, Millard North, 6-3, 6-4.

• No. 2 singles: Championship: Emma Schelble, Millard West, def. Jessie Koraleski, Marian, 6-3, 7-5. Third place: Ali Slosburg, Westside, def. Giselle Tran, Central, 6-2, 6-1.

• No. 1 doubles: Championship: Kara Scheule-Katherine Nelsen, Marian, def. Breanna and Lauren Keller, Westside, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Third place: Katherine and Elizabeth Ternent, Millard North, def. Lauren Kolb-Stephanie Irwin, Papillion-La Vista, 6-2, 6-2.

• No. 2 doubles: Championship: Caroline Nelsen-Hylan Miller, Marian, def. Caley Johnson-Shelby Krska, Papillion-La Vista, 6-2, 6-2. Third place: Paige and Taylor Menolascino, Westside, def. Myhiah Dotzler and Ally Wolever, Bellevue West, 7-5, 6-2.

Contact the writer:

444-1201, sports@owh.com

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