Notables
-CSS snaps a three-match losing skid to the Bulldogs
-CSS won all four singles matches in third-set super-breakers
-Ritchie earns first collegiate singles win
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's tennis team rallied from a 2-1 deficit after doubles play to win four of the six singles matches, all in superbreakers, to defeat the University of Minnesota Duluth 5-4 on Friday in its season opener at the Duluth Indoor Sports Center.
Doubles
The No. 3 team of sophomores
Maya Nibbe (Anoka, Minn./Anoka HS) and
Ava Warren (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) cruised to an 8-0 victory at the No. 3 doubles spot.
The No. 2 tandem of first-year players
Mishell Benitez (Ambato, Ecuador/Colegio Tecnico Particular a Distancia José Martí) and
Anna Ritchie (Becker, Minn./Becker HS) narrowly fell in a tiebreaker 8-7, (7-1).
Singles
At the No. 1 spot, sophomore
Julia Maier (Hamburg, Germany/Heidberg Gymnasium) won her opening set 6-4, before dropping the second set 6-3. She recovered and won the third-set superbreaker 10-3.
Senior
Madilyn Jankila (Eveleth, Minn./Eveleth-Gilbert HS) dropped the first set 6-4 at the No. 2 spot, but won the second set in a tiebreaker 7-6 and kept the momentum going to win the superbreaker 10-4.
Ritchie also dropped her first set 6-3 at the No. 4 spot, but cruised to win the second set 6-0. She held off her opponent to win the superbreaker 10-7.
Maria Valentini (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS) won her opening set 6-4 at the No. 6 spot, before falling in the second set 6-4. She, too, bounced back to win the superbreaker 10-2.
Up Next
The Saints head on the road on Sunday to face St. Norbert College (Wis.). Action is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at the Green Bay Tennis Center.
