Spencer Ellingson / Winonan

With only two returnees on this year’s Winona State University women’s tennis team, coach Heather Pierce says it’s a rebuilding year.

The Warrior’s two returners, Justine Daane and Lauren Willkom, along with transfer student Rachel Gantz from Ashland University, look to lead the way this year.

After dropping the last nine matches of the season, including being shutout by Augustana University in the first round of the NSIC tournament last year, the Warriors are hungry for a win.

Pierce said she is looking forward to the partner matchup of Gantz and Daane.

“They are both very strong players and they will compliment each other well,” Pierce said.

The Warriors’ roster will also feature four first-years: Melissa Boehmke, Katie Henning, Hattie Scott and Keara Thiele.

Pierce is very excited about how much potential the young team has. On Sunday, the Warriors start off the season against Carleton College. This is the second season in a row where they will face the Knights in their opening game.

Last year the Warriors came out of that matchup with a 6-3 loss. Daane is the only player returning this year who played in the match where she was victorious in both of her games.

Carleton, on the other side, brings back everyone who played in the matchup last year, giving the Knights roster lots of experience.

Pierce emphasized how the opener against Carleton will be a tough matchup.

“The Warriors need to play their very best in order to stay competitive,” she said.

The Warriors finished the season last year 6-13,

and earned the eighth seed in the playoffs.

Outside of Augustana coming off of their fifth straight NSIC conference championship, the conference is very tight and competitive. The Warriors are looking to move up in the standings from last year and advance in the postseason.

The Warriors will play at home against Carleton next Sunday at 2 p.m. before heading off to North and South Dakota back-to-back weekends.