ResultsMINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – After their strong start against North Central last weekend, the St. Catherine University tennis team was in for one of their biggest tests of the 2016 season in their second match against the University of Northwestern (Minn.). Last season, the Wildcats 5-4 victory was decided on the final win of the night, and that is exactly what it came down to again this year. Once again, St. Kate's was able to come out the victor, earing the 5-4 win with spectacular play both in singles and doubles play.
The afternoon match opened with three hard fought doubles matches. No. 1 doubles team
Mikinzee Salo (Brainerd, Minn. / Brainerd) and
Angie Lorenzen (Mitchell, S.D. / Mitchell) won their first doubles match of the 2016 year as a team, beating Northwestern's Karen Moe and Jess Henke 8-6.
Alicia Knoll (Waseca, Minn. / Waseca) and
Jessica Duda (St. Michael, Minn. / St. Michael-Albertville) needed a tie breaker in their doubles match be beat Northwestern's No. 2 doubles team by a score of 9-8.
Sophomore
Julia Sporer (Rogers, Minn. /Rogers) and first year
Leah Obert (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley) lost to the Eagles No. 3 doubles in team in their first match as a pair, but the Wildcats still held a 2-1 team lead heading into singles play. Just like in 2015, there were several surprised during singles play. Salo, St. Kate's No. 1 singles player this season, fell 6-0, 6-4 in her match, while No. 4 Duda and No. 5 Sporer fell in their hard fought single matches as we..
Brilliant play by Knoll, Lorenzen, and Obert lifted the Wildcats to victory. Lorenzen, the deciding factor in 2015, defeated the Eagles No. 3 singles player 6-4, 6-2, while Knoll went on to beat her opponent by the reciprocal score of 6-2, 6-4. Obert beat Northwestern's Emily Knight 6-3, 6-4.
After opening 2016 with two home matches, St. Kate's will get their first road test of the season next Saturday as they travel to Fargo, Minnesota to take on Concordia College. Then the Wildcats will return home on February 26 for a nonconfernece match against Martin Luther at U of M Baseline Tennis Courts.
