Results

After its best start in program history, the St. Catherine University tennis team looked to move one step closer to winning a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) title as they face a tough University of St. Thomas squad that also boasted a perfect 7-0 conference record. 

The Wildcats proved the Tommies were no match as they used a 6-3 win to inch ever-closer to the first MIAC title in Wildcat tennis history, Friday night at the University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. 

The match opened with a 2-1 win in doubles for the Wildcats as Victoria Bravo (Tucson, Ariz.) and Kylie Ketcho (Edina, Minn.) took the No. 1 duel 8-1 , and Angie Lorenzen (Mitchell, S.D.) and Mikinzee Salo (Brainerd, Minn.) won 8-4 at the No. 3 spot. 

Michaela Burroughs (Waterloo, Neb.) and Maria Koval (Green Bay, Wis.) suffered their first MIAC loss of the season - and only the second MIAC doubles loss for the team this season - at the No. 2 postion after battling Bridget Noack and Kara Lefsrud to a close 9-7 decision.

The duo found redemption, though, in singles play as Burroughs picked up an impressive 6-2, 6-0 win over Mary Allen at No. 2 , while Koval was also impressive with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Noack at No. 3 singles to pick up the win for the Wildcats. With the win Koval remains undefeated in all eight MIAC singles matches this season.

At the No. 1 spot, Bravo continued to prove why she is the top-ranked player in the MIAC as she took down Shelby Henderson by a score of 6-1, 6-2. Bravo also remains undefeated in MIAC singles play.

The final singles win of the night came in thrilling fashion as Salo defeated Brittany Alexander at the No. 6 position in a third-set tiebreaker. The first-year took the first set 6-4, before falling 4-6 in the second. She then battled to a close 10-8 win in the deciding set to add to the Wildcat win total.  

With the win, the Wildcats improve to a perfect 8-0 in the MIAC and clinch a spot in the conference playoffs. The Wildcats have just two conference matches remaining on the schedule before the MIAC tournament begins on Friday, May 3. Next up, the Wildcats travel down the road to face Macalester College Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. 

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