Box Score Results

AURORA, ILL. – It was exactly the kind of start to spring break the St. Catherine University tennis team was hoping for. The Wildcats cruised to victory in their opening dual of the break, defeating Illinois' Aurora University in resounding 9-0 fashion.
 
St. Kate's earned all three points in doubles play thanks to outstanding play by all three teams. In fact, two of the Wildcats three teams won 8-0, while the other team dropped just one game en route to a 8-1 victory themselves. St. Kate's No. 1 team of Bri Dorr (Princeton, Minn. / Princeton) and Aubrey Eckstrom (St. James, Minn. / St. James) defeated Micaela Mascha and Mackenzie Smith 8-1, while the No. 2 team of Julia Sporer (Rogers, Minn. / Rogers) and Alisha Wiedmeier (Rapid City, S.D. / Stevens) and No. 3 team Maddy Knoll (Waseca, Minn. / Waseca) and Ella Graham (Madison, S.D. / Madison) each won their respective matches by scored of 8-0.
 
The strong play continued in singles, as all six Wildcats won their matches in straight sets. Wiedmeier, Sporer and Eckstrom absolutely dominated as St. Kate's No. 2, 3 and 6 singles players, winning their matches 6-0, 6-0. Juniors Leah Obert (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley) and Ruth Rike (Pine City, Minn. / Pine City) each won individual matches for the Wildcats as well. Obert defeated Alex Hultine 6-1, 6-0 as St. Kate's No. 4 singles player, while Rike defeated Sami Hultine 6-0, 6-1.
 
Dorr played in what could be deemed the most exciting match of the afternoon. The sophomore won the opening set of her match against Mascha 6-2, which was the closest any Aurora student-athlete would come to defeating St. Kate's before dominating the second set to win the match 6-2, 6-1.
 
With the victory, the Wildcats overall record improves to 6-3 and the team has a 1-3 mark in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play. St. Kate's will return to action on Monday when it takes on Elmhurst College at 11 a.m. in Chicago, Illinois.