Winona State’s women’s tennis headed to Orlando, Fla. this Spring Break and played against five different teams.  

Winona State cruised through the first day with a 9-0 win over John Carroll University on Sunday, March 5, claiming both 3-0 doubles win and all six points in the singles contest, making it their fourth victory of the spring season.  

Following the wins at No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 doubles against JCU, Rachel Kelly opened the singles competition by winning the No.2 singles flight with a 6-2, 6-3 performance. While Winona’s Clara Thoemke sealed the Warrior win with a victory at No. 5 singles, defeating her opponent 6-0, 6-3.  

As they continued the sweep, fourth-year Beth Murman won at No. 1 singles by a 7-5, 6-1 scoreline and then first-year Maddie Moe took the No. 6 singles section with a 6-0, 6-7 (4), 10-7 to move WSU (Winona State University) to 7-0 on the day. Miranda Daulong won 6-3, 7-5 at the No. 4 singles slot and Warrior Sara Anderson outlasted her opponent at No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-7 (4), 11-9 to seal WSU’s win.  

“Tennis is a sport full of emotion and one that constantly keeps you on your toes (literally and figuratively),” Murman said.  

The next day they were in action against Seton Hill University in Coco Beach, Fla. as they defeated the Griffins 6-1, and swept the doubles contest and completed two three-set victories in singles.  

Winona State’s No. 3 doubles team of Daulong and Moe did not give up a game, winning 6-0, to set the tone for the Warriors. WSU then took the top two doubles spots by scores of 6-3 to earn the doubles point. 

“My individual goal is to contribute to our team in the strongest way possible,” Moe said.  

At the top singles position, Murman was the first one off the court, winning by a score of 6-2, 6-2. Thoemke took the No. 4 singles as she ended her match 6-3, 6-1. While Daulong maintained the win of the matchups at No. 5 singles 6-2, 6-1.  

Each of Kelly and Ally Burger were able to complete comebacks after dropping their opening sets. Kelly, at No. 2 singles, lost the first set 6-4 but won the second set 6-3 and completed the comeback with a 10-8 super tiebreaker. Burger lost the opening set in a tiebreaker before winning set number two 6-3 and then the super tiebreaker 10-6 to complete the 6-1 victory for Winona State. 

The Warriors took a day off, but the break was short lived as the next day they were back to compete on Wednesday, March 8. Winona State took on two matches against University of Tampa and California University of Pennsylvania.  

As Tampa is No. 16-ranked, Winona State dropped each of the double’s levels, allowing the Spartans to claim a 1-0 lead. Murman and Anderson, the No. 1 doubles pairing fell 6-3, No. 2 doubles pairing Burger and Kelly were dealt with a 6-1 setback and last doubles pairing Clara Thoemke and Maddie Moe came down to 6-0.  

In singles play, Winona State’s Burger rallied to defeat Tal Zinn 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (11-9) to avoid the sweep for the Warriors. Murman fell 6-1. 6-2 to Raquel Amaro in No. 1 singles and Kelly lost 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 2 singles slot. 

Unfortunately, Moe and teammate Daulong were both defeated 6-0, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-1 in No. 6 singles matches.  

In their second match of the day, Winona state won at all three double levels to begin their matchup against California (PA) with a 1-0 advantage.  

Burger continued to play strong even after the defeat, she finished her match 6-0, 6-0 with a win at No. 5 singles, going undefeated in the singles play on that day.  

Winona state claimed the close victory of 4-3 as there were wins at No. 2 singles by Kelly (6-0, 6-2) and No. 6 singles by Daulong (6-3, 6-1) to claim the four points that were needed for the victory. While California (PA) would take the wins at No. 1, No. 3, and No. 4.  

In the final match of the Warrior’s spring break trip, Michigan Tech downed our Warriors 7-0 in the first-ever meeting between the schools.  

A pair of tie-breaker points in singles play did not go the Warrior’s way and the Huskies claimed the doubles point and dealt Winona State the shutout loss. MTU beat Winona State 6-3 at No. 1 singles and 6-2 at both the No. 2 and No. 3 slots.

In singles play, Murman and Kelly both forced an extra frame in their matches before falling. Michigan Tech won at No. 3 singles (6-1, 6-3), and No. 4 singles (6-0, 6-0), beating Maddie Moe and Burger.

In No. 5 singles, Daulong lost 6-4, 6-2 and Thoemke fell at No. 6 singles, 6-1, 6-0.  

Winona State finished the week off 6-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference. They are set to play against the Minnesota State University – Mankato Mavericks on Friday, March 17 and Sunday, March 19 in the Winona Tennis Center.