Box Score Winona, Minn. - In their first non-conference match of the 2021 season, the Winona State women's tennis team fell to the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, in a hard-fought 4-3 decision.
Winona State rebounded after dropping the doubles point to win at #1, #2 and #3 singles, taking a 3-1 lead halfway through Saturday's match. However, the Blugolds battled back to claim the final three singles contests and down the Warriors.
The Winona State #1 doubles team of
Rachel Kelly and
Rina Niehoff started the Warrior day off with 6-1 win over Lindsey Henderson and Elaine Fronta, but the WSU combination of
Beth Murman and
Sara Anderson were dealt a 6-3 loss by Emily Cooper and Alexa Brooks in #2 doubles.
Audrey Delich and
Faith Young fell to UW-EC's Morgan Nelson and Natalie Girard at #3, staking the Blugolds a 1-0 advantage.
Comfortable wins by
Beth Murman (6-1, 6-2),
Rachel Kelly (6-1, 6-1) and
Rina Niehoff (6-2, 6-4) in the top three singles spots gave Winona State a brief lead, but the BluGolds rallied in the remaining matches. At #4 singles, UW-EC's Alexa Brooks won over WSU's
Audrey Delich in a three-set match, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, while in #5 singles Winona State's
Sara Anderson lost in three sets to Morgan Nelson, 2-6, 6-2, 2-6. Sydney Preslen beat the Warrior's
Faith Young, 6-4, 6-3, to finish the day at #6 singles.
With the loss, Winona State falls to 4-3 on the year and remain 4-2 in NSIC play. The Warriors will be off for the next two weeks, before returning to action on March 20, when they host Upper Iowa University.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu
