Results

After two-straight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) victories, the St. Catherine University tennis team hoped it could increase its win streak to three in a row against a Saint Mary's University squad that has suffered just one conference loss this season. But the Cardinals were no match for the Wildcats who cruised to a 9-0 win Friday evening at the University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. 

The Wildcats continued their strong play in doubles play thanks to three dominate wins to get the match off to a strong start. Maria Koval (Green Bay, Wis.) and Mikinzee Salo (Brainerd, Minn.) improved to 6-0 on the season at the No. 2 position with a dominating 8-0 win over Lindsey Reinisch and Megan Vandenberg, while Victoria Bravo (Tucson, Ariz.) and Kylie Ketcho (Edina, Minn.) also remained undefeated at No. 1 with an 8-1 decision over Grace Zachman and Katie Krull. Megan Buysse (Redwood Falls, Minn.) and Alicia Knoll (Waseca, Minn.) rounded out doubles with their second conference win of the season as a pair at No. 3 doubles by a score of 8-2. 

Bravo kept her impressive MIAC winning streak alive at the No. 1 position with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Zachman. The win was the 15th conference win for Bravo in her two-year career in MIAC singles play. The senior also kept her record flawless as she has yet to drop a set in her conference singles career. 

Koval, Ketcho and Salo each picked up their third-consecutive singles wins in straight sets to help the Wildcats to their fifth MIAC win of the season. After battling for a 7-5 win in the first set at No. 2, Koval took down Krull 6-2 in the second to seal the victory. Ketcho jumped out to a 6-3 win in the first set before pulling of the second-set win 7-6 at the No. 3 spot. Salo again continued her impressive conference play at No. 4 singles dropping just one game en route to victory over Vandenberg.

Knoll and Buysse each picked up their third MIAC singles wins of the season. Knoll defeated Leanne Cleveland 6-3, 6-0, while Buysee battled back after dropping the first set to defeat Haley Jorgenson with a 10-2 third-set tiebreaker win. 

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 6-2 on the season and 5-1 in the MIAC. The Wildcats take a break from conference play for three matches against three Division III opponents in Texas over spring break. The first match is scheduled for Monday at Southwestern University. 

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