WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University tennis team split in their final two NSIC matches over the weekend of April 15-16 on the road - and in earning a win at Minnesota State Moorhead on Sunday - punched their ticket to the 2023 NSIC tournament as the No. 6 seed.
Winona State fell to the University of Mary by a 4-3 scoreline on Saturday, April 15 but rebounded on Saturday, April 16 to defeat Minnesota State Moorhead 6-1. As other matches from around the NSIC wrapped up on the last weekend of league play, WSU emerged as the No. 6 seed for the postseason. Winona State and St. Cloud State finished the season with identical NSIC records, but the Huskies claimed the No. 5 seed due to a head-to-head win over the Warriors.
Against UMary, Winona State held a narrow advantage in winning two doubles points and opening the match at 1-0. While WSU won the No. 1 and No. 6 singles levels, the host Marauders took No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 singles to eke out the 4-3 victory.
In singles play, WSU's
Beth Murman defeated UMary's Chloe Chong 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1, while Warrior teammate
Ally Burger enjoyed success over the Marauder's Samantha Purpura 6-3, 6-0 at No. 6. However, the University of Mary swept the points between No. 2 and No. 5 singles en route to the 4-3 setback for Winona State.
Facing MSU-Moorhead on Sunday, April 16, at the Courts Plus Community Fitness Center, Winona State defeated the host Dragons and secured a berth in the 2023 NSIC tournament with the result. The Dragon's loss eliminated them from post-season competition.
Winona State swept all three levels of play in doubles competition, with the No. 1 doubles team of
Sara Anderson and
Beth Murman beating MSUM's Shaelyn Johnson and Tia Dykema, 6-4. No. 2 doubles saw
Rachel Kelly and
Ally Burger defeat Tiannah Gu and Madison Bell by a 6-2 scoreline while the
Miranda Daulong-
Clara Thoemke pairing at No. 3 doubles took down the Dragon's Marissa Burian and Claire Nemmer, 6-4.
With the doubles point in hand, WSU went to work at singles play and quickly secured the 2023 NSIC Tournament bid with wins at five of the six levels of play.
At the top of the Warrior lineup, WSU's
Beth Murman defeated Shaelyn Johnson 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 and No. 2 singles saw the Warrior's
Rachel Kelly beat Tiannah Gu, 6-2, 6-2.
Although the Dragons took the No. 3 singles slot when Tia Dykema handed
Sara Anderson a 6-3, 6-4 setback, Winona State rebounded to win the final three levels.
Miranda Daulong (No. 4),
Clara Thoemke (No. 5) won by 6-4, 6-2 and 6-2, 7-5 scorelines, respectively.
Ally Burger was stretched to extra points by MSUM's Madison Bell, but held on to defeat Bell, 6-3, 5-7, 10-6.
The 2023 NSIC Women's Tennis Tournament will take place on Friday-Sunday, April 21-23 at Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. First round pairings on Friday, April 21 has an 11:30 a.m. start time for the (3) University of Mary versus (6) Winona State matchup. All match start times are subject to change if earlier matches run long. No matches will begin earlier than the announced start time.
