The Gustavus women’s tennis team recorded wins over Macalester, Southwest State University, and the University of Missouri in Kansas City and a loss to Drake University on Friday and Saturday. The Gusties defeated the Scots 9-0 on Friday and the Mustangs 9-0 and the Kangaroos 7-0 on Saturday. Gustavus’ lone weekend loss came against Drake in a 7-0 decision. The Gusties improved their dual match record to 10-3.
The Golden Gusties kicked off the weekend with a 9-0 victory over Macalester on Friday night at the Swanson Tennis Center in St. Peter. The Gustavus doubles pairings of Jenni White and Sierra Krebsbach, Sam Frank and Ali O’Neal, and Erica Dobson and Jenny Arnfelt defeated their opponents by the score of 8-2. All six singles matches went in favor of the Gusties as Jenni White had the toughest challenge at the #1 singles position defeating Angie Horner 6-2, 6-2. Other Gustavus singles wins came from Sierra Krebsbach (#2), Sam Frank (#3), Ali O’Neal (#4), Erica Dobson (#5), and Jenny Arnfelt (#6).
Gustavus split the squad on Saturday as the Gusties hosted Southwest State University at the Swanson Tennis Center and traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to face Division I Drake University and the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
The Gusties earned all three doubles points against Southwest State with wins at #1 doubles by Christine Reimer and Marianne Barau, #2 doubles by Brittany Templin and Julie Bardenwerper, and #3 doubles by Haley Prittinen and Lisa Gruenisen. Christine Reimer won the first set against Ananza Ferrari 6-0 before losing the second set 7-5. Reimer pulled out the win in the superbreaker to win the point at #1 singles. Alison Utke fought back at #4 singles after dropping the first set to Diana Naatz 6-2, but won the second set 6-4 and the superbreaker. Other Gustie wins came from Julie Bardenwerper (#2), Brittany Templin (#3), Kelsey Brugger (#5), and Jennie Andersen (#6).
In Des Moines, Gustavus earned the pivotal doubles point against UM-Kansas City sweeping all the doubles matches with Jenni White and Sierra Krebsbach at #1 doubles, Sam Frank and Ali O’Neal at #2 doubles, and Erica Dobson and Laura Arnebeck at #3 doubles. Sam Frank and Erica Dobson turned in the most competitive singles matches at #3 and #5 singles, respectively. Frank came from behind to defeat Akshara Reddy 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 in the superbreaker. Dobson also pulled off a comeback victory against Holly Dobson 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 in the superbreaker. Gustavus won the remaining singles matches in straight sets with Jenni White (#1), Sierra Krebsbach (#2), Ali O’Neal (#4), and Jenny Arnfelt (#6).
The Gusties were shutout by Drake University in Saturday’s final match. Erica Dobson and Laura Arnebeck fell 9-7 in #3 doubles against Irina Kalashinikova and Daria Vawislak in the closest doubles match of the contest. Gustavus was swept in straight sets in singles competition with Ali O’Neal nearly forcing a superbreaker, but was unable to come out on top in a second set tiebreaker.
Gustavus will return to competition on Thursday, March 20 at the Swanson Tennis Center against Southwest-Baptist University and Bemidji State University, beginning at 2 p.m.