Kylie Bridenhagen/Winonan
The Winona State University women’s tennis team spring season came to an end this past weekend in Minnetonka, Minnesota after completing matches against The University of Mary, Saint Cloud State and the top-ranked Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team, Augustana in NSIC Championship play.
The Warriors swept their first opponent of the championships, the University of Mary 5-0 in doubles and singles action. All three of the doubles teams dominated their matches to push ahead of the Marauders.
Erin Kappers and her doubles teammate, Hannah Potter, started off strong defeating Sarah Janes and Hallie Welk, 8-3. Brianna Havelka and Jessica Urban won their match 8-2 over Kate O’Connell and Stefanie Gerriets. Laura Lindstrand and Brittney Freund finished the sweep by defeating the pair of Ashley Akers and Ashley Tuschling 8-2.
To ensure the win and to move onto the semifinal round, the Warriors had to win two singles matches.
Laura Roesslein was placed against Akers, and won 6-0, 6-0. Potter played as the second singles Warrior of this matchup. She defeated O’Connell 6-0, 6-1, helping to advance the team on to the semifinal round and adding another win to their then 16-4 record.
For their first matchup Saturday, April 20, the Warriors faced St. Cloud State—an opponent they previously played against earlier this month, where they won 8-1.
The three doubles teams started the day off victoriously, winning all of their matches. Kappers and Potter’s team won 8-2 over Cassandra Brown and Katie Kotschevar. Havelka and Urban added to the winning tally, defeating the pair of Maribelle Siegfried and Gabbie Pung 9-8 (8-6). Lindstrand and Freund played for the last win, beating Tori Marlton and Jordee Matson 8-4.
Like the previous day, it came down to two singles matches to secure the win. Lindstrand went on to win agaist Hanna Kanton 6-1, 6-3. Kappers then won her match against Brown 6-3, 6-1. The Warriors earned their second straight sweep, winning 5-0, bringing their overall record to 17-4.
With this win, the Warriors moved on to the championship round, where they would face off against Augustana.
Previously in the season, Winona State University played against Augustana, where they received their first loss in NSIC season play.
When doubles play finished early on, the Warriors came out winning two of their three doubles matches.
Kappers and Potter beat Katie Jesperson and Michelle Wadas 8-4. Leah Dahl and Lindstand added to the first win by defeating Heather Sullivan and Jena Helleberg 8-5. The only doubles loss came when Jessa Richards and Hannah Gebauer of Augustana, defeated the team of Havelka and Urban 8-6.
As for singles action, Potter was the sole victor of the day for her team. She played against Wadas, winning 4-6, 5-4, unfinished. Augustana won the five remaining matches. Jesperson defeated Kappers 6-2, 6-3. Richards won against Urban, going 6-2, 6-1. Gebauer beat Dahl 6-1, 6-0.
Helleberg won her match against Freund 6-0, 6-2. Havelka lost to Sullivan 6-1, 2-6, 1-1, unfinished.
Augustana won their third straight NSIC title and will move on the NCAA Central Region Tournament, where they are seeded fourth as a team.
After falling 2-5 to the Vikings, the Warriors overall record came to 17-5 on the season. This matchup was their final play during the spring season and the Warriors became runners-up in the NSIC conference.
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