The Winona State University tennis team kept its record this past Saturday, March 17, with a victory against Upper Iowa University.

Heather Reilly, the head tennis coach, commented on how the fall season helped the team prepare for the spring competition.

“The fall season was brief as usual. We don’t focus too much on the competition side of things,” Reilly said. “We use the few matches we play to see what we’re working with for the upcoming spring competition. Fall season gave us the opportunity to get the girls back on the court and in the swing of things.”

First-year Caitlin Anderson also discussed their fall season.

“The fall season was more focused on rebuilding. We definitely improved since the fall season. For example, we played [University of Wisconsins-La Crosse] in the fall and we lost, but then scrimmaged them later, which we ended up winning,” Anderson said.

The improvements from the fall season can be seen on the court and in the teams’ record.

The team started the season with a winning streak, winning eight games in a row before their first loss of the season against Christian Brothers University in Orlando, Florida.

The team bounced back from the loss and gained another win to finish up their time in Orlando.

“So far, our greatest achievement has been starting the season 8-0. The girls have been so impressive in match play,” Reilly said. “It has been so fun to see the team compete for what they want, and to see each girl step up at a different time to contribute to team wins.”

The team stepped up at Saturday’s game against Upper Iowa University, winning 8-1.

Upper Iowa University only has five players, so they have to forfeit two matches but even though they have to forfeit two, they are still a good quality team and we are going to have to bring our A-game in order to win that match,” Anderson said.

The game started off with sophomore Kaisey Skibba and senior Justine Danne playing doubles, winning the first three doubles matches at No. 1.

Sophomore Kendra Kappes and senior Rachel Gantz scored an 8-0 win at doubles No. 2. Upper Iowa University had to forfeit No. 3.

Sophomore Tayla Card won 6-1, 6-2 at singles No. 5, and remains unbeaten in singles.

Senior Kali Hackmann also remains unbeaten in singles after winning 6-1, 6-0 over her Upper Iowa University opponent at singles No. 4.

Card and Hackmann also remain unbeaten as a team in doubles.

Skibba lost her singles No. 1 match, 6-1, 7-5.

Gantz won 6-1, 6-7, 10-8 over her Upper Iowa opponent at singles No. 2 and Kappes won 6-2, 6-1 at singles No. 3.

Upper Iowa University had to forfeit their last single match, No. 6.

“We have started off really well. We would love to stay undefeated and finish at the top of the conference and also get back to the championship at the conference tournament,” Card said.

Winona State will compete in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, against University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, March 24 and Augustana University on Sunday, March 25.