Results
ST. PAUL, MINN. –
Mikinzee Salo (Brainerd, Minn. / Brainerd) and
Angie Lorenzen (Mitchell, S. D. / Mitchell) have made quite an impact during their careers with the St. Catherine University tennis team. Sadly, their careers ended Tuesday afternoon in the Wildcats loss to the nationally ranked University of St. Thomas in the opening round of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. However, both seniors made an impact by winning both St. Kate's points in the 7-2 defeat.
As the Wildcats No. 1 doubles team, Salo and Lorenzen entered their match against the Tommies Bridget Noack and Shelby Henderson on a three match win streak. Their streak was extended to four on Tuesday afternoon, as the duo opened doubles play with an 8-4 win over Noack and Henderson. Salo and Lorenzen's victory was the only one for St. Kate's in doubles play, as No. 2 team
Alicia Knoll (Waseca, Minn. / Waseca) and
Leah Obert (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley) fell 8-4 and
Jessica Duda (St. Michael, Minn. / St. Michael-Albertville) and
Ruth Rike (Pine City, Minn. / Pine City) lost at the No. 3 spot 8-3.
Salo's strong doubles play carried over in singles where she once again faced Noack. Salo dominated in her final match of the afternoon, beating the previously ranked Noack 6-0 in the opening set and 6-4 in set two. Salo ended the season with a 14-4 record in doubles and a 12-7 record in singles play during 2016.
Knoll fought Henderson at the No. 2 spot but fell in straight sets 7-5, 6-2. It was only the fourth match Knoll lost to a MIAC opponent, as she ended 2016 with an 11-7 mark in singles play. Lorenzen lost a tough match 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 3 spot to match her fellow senior Salo's record in singles play at 12-7. She also finished with the best doubles record on the team at 15-5.
Duda, Obert, and Rike forced the Tommies to earn their wins at the four, five, and six spots. Duda fell by a score of 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 4 spot, while Obert fell 6-0, 6-4 at No. 5. Rike nearly defeated Jessie O'Brien in the opening set of their singles match but lost serve in the final game to lose 7-5. She then fell in set number two 6-3.
The Wildcats conclude their season with a 10-9 record overall and a 5-5 mark in MIAC play. St. Kate's also appeared in the conference tournament for the sixth consecutive year after sliding in to the six spot on the final regular day of the 2016 season.
