DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's tennis team begin its 2015 season this weekend with pair of matches at the Arrowhead Tennis Center.
 
Where:
Arrowhead Tennis Center – Duluth, Minn.
 
When:
Saturday vs. North Central (Minn.) – 5 p.m.
Sunday vs. Minnesota-Duluth – 9 a.m.
 
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St. Scholastica Saints
Roster | Schedule | 2014 Statistics
 
For the first time in program history, the St. Scholastica women's tennis team lost an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) match last season and did not win the UMAC Tournament … The Saints, who were young last year, will be young again this season as they look to bounce back.
 
Who's Back: Senior Alexis Gunderson (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) is back at No. 1 singles and doubles spot … Gunderson is a three-time All-UMAC selection and tied for a team-high with 17 doubles victories last season … She has won at least 10 singles matches and 12 matches in each of her first three seasons … Madeleine Scanlan (St. Albans, England /Loreto College) had a stellar freshman campaign … Scanlan was second on the team with 16 singles wins and also recorded 15 doubles victories on her way to an All-UMAC selection … Katie Kingston (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) went 15-2 in doubles action with 10 wins coming at the No. 3 spot … She was 8-0 in singles play, including 6-0 at the No. 5 spot.
 
Who's Gone: Jessica Solberg (Bemidji, Minn. /Bemidji HS) will be studying abroad this spring … Solberg led the team with 17 singles wins as a freshman and teamed the Gunderson with a team-high 16 doubles victories … Aleksandra Ochrymowicz (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary’s Academy) was an All-UMAC choice last season and finished third on the team with 14 singles wins … Kelsey Geiger (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) had 11 singles wins and Pamela Hartley (Lima, Peru/Franklin Roosevelt College) won nine times on the singles circuit.
 
Newcomers: Head Coach Wells Patten has four freshmen on his roster … Mexican native Daniela Rojas (Monterrey, Mexico /Universidad Tecmilenio) will look to make an immediate impact for the Saints … Also look for Alexia Brascugli (Eveleth, Minn. /Eveleth-Gilbert HS) and Sarah Coryell (Golden Valley, Minn. /Armstrong HS) make some noise at the bottom of the lineup this season.
 
Bounce Back: The Saints had seven losses last season after losing only 15 times the previous three seasons combined.
 
All Streaks Come to an End: CSS had one its first 113 UMAC regular season dual matches, before the University of Northwestern defeated the Saints last season.
 
Series History:
-CSS leads North Central 12-0
-UMD leads CSS 8-6
 
Last Season: The Saints swept North Central 9-0 in both matches and have not an individual match against the Rams in all 12 meetings … CSS defeated UMD 9-0 for the second straight year … The Saints have won six straight against the Bulldogs.
 
Top 5 Matches to Watch
2/1 – vs. Minnesota Duluth
The "Battle for College Street" has seen the Saints win six straight over the Bulldogs
2/21 – vs. St. Olaf (Virginia, Minn.)
The Oles placed fifth in the MIAC last season
3/21 – at Gustavus Adolphus
The Gusties placed second in the MIAC and were runner-ups in the MIAC Tournament.
3/28 – vs. Northwestern
The Eagles, who took two out of three from the Saints last season to take control of the UMAC, will look for their first win in Duluth
4/25 – at Northwestern
CSS' first-ever UMAC loss came at Northwestern.
 
Opponents this Weekend
North Central University Rams
The Rams finished 0-10 last season … North Central has gone winless in UMAC play for three straight seasons … The Rams had only one singles win all year as they went 1-56 … The Rams were winless in doubles play.
 
University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
The Bulldogs went 1-11 last season … Their lone win came against Southwest Minnesota State … UMD was 2-34 in the top three singles flights last season … Kaitlin Wohnoutka went 5-5 at the No. 3 spot … The Bulldogs were 5-7 at No. 3 doubles, but were 1-23 in the top two flights.