MIAC Release
BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – Last season, the youthful St. Catherine University tennis team made its seventh-consecutive appearance in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoffs, marking the longest playoff appearance streak in St. Kate's history. Fellow coach's in the conference expect the Wildcats to be there at the end again, as they were picked to finish fifth in the MIAC Preseason Coaches Poll with 57 total points.
In 2017, senior leadership and a talented crop of first years led the Wildcats to their seventh straight playoff appearance. While St. Kate's lost All-Conference honoree Alicia Knoll (Waseca, Minn. / Waseca) to graduation, eight of the Wildcats 12 woman roster returns for the 2018 season. Among the returners are All-MIAC honorees Bri Dorr (Princeton, Minn. / Princeton), Julia Sporer (Rodgers, Minn. / Rodgers and Alisha Wiedmeier (Rapid City, S.D. / Stevens) who helped propel St. Kate's to last year's MIAC playoff appearance.
St. Kate's tennis season is set to officially begin on February 3. The Wildcats will open the season against Martin Luther College at 7 p.m. at Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Meet the 2018 St. Kate's tennis team (in 140 characters or less):
Bri Dorr (So.; Princeton, Minn. / Princeton): As a first year, earned All-MIAC honors in doubles. Member of No. 1 doubles team and was the No. 3 singles player. Named MIAC AOW on April 4.
Aubrey Eckstrom (So.; St. James, Minn. / St. James): Member of St. Kate's No. 3 doubles team as a first year in 2017 where she posted a 9-9 record.
Ella Graham (Fy.; Madison, S.D. / Madison): First year from Madison, South Dakota. 4x MVP during high school career. Finished 4th at state tourney in 2015.
Maddy Knoll (So.; Waseca, Minn. / Waseca): Posted a 4-4 record during her first season with St. Kate's. Earned two wins in both doubles and singles play.
Leah Obert (Jr.; Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley): Member of MIAC All-Sportsmanship team. Posted a 13-4 overall record and went 6-1 as St. Kate's No. 6 singles player.
Ruth Rike (Jr.; Pine City, Minn. / Pine City): Posted a 3-1 record as a sophomore in 2017. Member of the MIAC All-Sportsmanship team in 2016.
Julia Sporer (Sr.; Rodgers, Minn. / Rodgers): Earned All-MIAC honors in doubles in 2017. Was statistically the Wildcats best doubles player in 2017 with 15-6 overall and 8-3 MIAC record.
Alisha Wiedmeier (Rapid City, S.D. / Stevens): All-MIAC honoree in doubles in 2017. Posted 13-6 overall record and went 8-3 against MIAC opponents. Named MIAC AOW on March 28.
Head Coach Megan Gaard:
Enters 3rd season with the Wildcats in 2018. Lead St. Kate's to MIAC playoffs in first three seasons. Member of only all-female coaching staff in MIAC.
