ST. PAUL, MINN. – The St. Catherine University tennis team stayed perfect this season as they narrowly defeated the University of Northwestern (Minn.) 5-4 on Saturday. First year Leah Obert (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley) played a huge role in the victory, as her singles win sealed the victory for the Wildcats. For her play, Obert has been named Wildcat Athlete of the Week.
As the No. 6 singles player for St. Kate’s, Obert played a huge role in Saturday’s victory as she was one of two Wildcats still playing to determine which team would win the match overall. The Wildcats held a slim 2-1 advantage after doubles play, but the Eagles were able to overcome the deficit in singles play. With losses by St. Kate’s No. 1 and No. 4 singles players, the Wildcats once again held a 4-3 lead with two matches still in play to determine the overall winner.
Obert sealed St. Kate’s victory with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Northwestern’s No. 6 singles player Emily Knights. The first year is now a perfect 2-0 in singles play this season after two perfect 6-0,6-0 victories over North Central two weekends ago.
Thanks to Obert, the Wildcats improved to 2-0 on the season. St. Kate’s will take their winning momentum with them as they travel to Fargo, Minnesota this weekend for a match against Concordia Moorhead. The match against the Cobbers will be the Wildcats first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) match of the season and the team’s first road test of 2016.
