MOORHEAD, Minn. – An afternoon victory follows a morning loss for the Minnesota State University Moorhead tennis team as they took on Concordia College and the University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday in Moorhead, Minn.
The Dragons, 6-10 and 5-5 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, fell 6-3 to the Cobbers, 10-8 and 3-6 in the Minnesota Athletic Intercollegiate Conference, and defeated the Bulldogs, 6-10 and 4-5 in the NSIC, 8-1.
Four Dragons earned match wins against the Cobbers including two singles wins and one doubles win.
Kayla Huether and
Alyse Grelson took home the singles wins while
Kathryn Neubauer and
Jenna Galstad grabbed the only doubles win for the Dragons. The only Dragon casualty of the afternoon matches came during the final sets in doubles action.
To start Saturday, Huether (10-5 No. 1 singles) extended her winning streak to five while also winning six of her last seven matches due to a default win over
Andrea Rognlien. The victory gives Huether a double-digit season win total in singles action for the first time in her career.
Neubauer (3-3 No. 2 singles, 2-0 No. 3 singles) fell in the spot following Huether to Julie Olson, 6-3, 6-3. The Dragons took the lead back thanks to Grelson (3-3 No. 3 singles, 4-4 No. 4 singles). The senior grabbed a quick win over Andrea Koskiniemi, 6-1, 6-3. Over the next four matches, the Cobbers earned four straight wins to secure the team win on the day.
Neubauer and Galstad (3-4 No. 2 doubles) were able to take the last Dragons win on the day over Andrea and Emma Koskiniemi, 8-5. After the final doubles match on the day, the Cobbers took the 6-3 win on the day.
With hopes to finish the regular season on a win, MSUM took the court against UMD. Huether (11-5 No. 1 singles) began action again with another win. Huether allowed just two points to Katie Bolf on her way to a 6-0, 6-2 victory, Huether's sixth straight to finish the regular season. Neubauer (4-3 No. 2 singles, 2-0 No. 3 singles) rebounded from her morning loss against Brittany Thompson. The two battled back and forth with the Dragon taking away the 6-4, 6-4 win.
Grelson (4-3 No. 3 singles, 4-4 No. 4 singles) kept the day's win streak going by taking down Alyssa Brunnelli. Grelson finished her regular season by winning seven of her last eight matches. The team's third win on the day came while allowing just three points in a 6-2, 6-1 win. Galstad (6-4 No. 4 spot, 1-5 No. 3 spot) entered in the No. 4 spot while allowing just four points. Jessica Stensrud attempted to end the Bulldogs' losing streak but failed as the Dragon took the match, 6-2, 6-2.
In the fifth match of the day, the Dragons sealed the win for the day.
Jaime LaCoursiere (4-6 No. 5 spot, 0-6 No. 6 spot) was not handed the Dragons' daily win as Kara Saemann put up a fight. When the final point was scored, LaCoursiere was the last one standing with a final of 6-4, 6-3. To begin the remaining matches,
Kaitlin McNary continued the pattern while taking down Kelsey Cunningham. The sophomore put up the best Dragon singles performance while allowing one point in a final of 6-0, 6-1.
The win streak continued through doubles performances until the final match. Huether and Grelson (8-8 No. 1 spot doubles) allowed six points to manage the 8-6 doubles opening victory. Neubauer and Galstad (4-4 No. 2 spot doubles) followed to give the Dragons their eighth and final win of the day. The last match gave the Bulldogs some return as Saemann and Brunnelli defeated LaCoursiere and McNary (3-5 No. 3 spot doubles). The Dragons duo did not go out without a fight though as they put up four points, ultimately to fall 8-4.
The Dragons rolled through the afternoon matches with all the momentum to take the final, 8-1. The matches against Concordia and Minnesota Duluth ended the regular season for MSUM. The next action will take part in the NSIC Tournament on April 20-22 in Minneapolis, Minn.
