FARGO, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's tennis team went split a pair of matches on Saturday, but won the more important of the two. After losing a non-conference match to Concordia College-Moorhead, 9-0, the Cougars turned around and downed the University of Wisconsin-Superior, 6-3, in the UMAC opener for both teams. The split of the two matches leaves the Cougars at 2-3 (1-0 UMAC) on the season.
A 3-0 lead from doubles spurred Concordia to victory in the opening match of the day. The No. 2 team of
Abby Burquest and
Valerie Gail, as well as the No. 3 team of
Megan Arens and
Marybeth Tautges each lost by scores of 8-3, while
Kiley Rodarmel and
Allison Bruhn lost their No. 1 match at love. Singles play was much closer for the Cougars, though the Cobbers were able to win all six matches. Two of the six required a third-set tiebreaker. Gail lost at No. 4, 4-6, 6-4, 9-11. Arens dropped the No. 5 match, 6-1, 3-6, 8-10. Tautges was also competitive at No. 6 singles, falling 4-6, 5-7.
In the afternoon match, Minnesota Morris started out with an important 2-1 lead over UW-Superior. Rodarmel and Bruhn won the No. 1 match, 8-4, while the No. 2 pairing of Burquest and Gail earned an 8-5 win. The Cougars performed well in singles and had three straight-set victories to clinch the win. Burquest was a winner at No. 2 singles, 6-4, 6-2. Bruhn took her No. 3 match, 6-4, 6-1. Gail had a relatively straightforward time at No. 4 with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph. The sixth point came from Arens at No. 5 in a 6-2, 1-6, 10-7 victory.
Minnesota Morris is back in action on March 25 with a return trip to Superior, Wis. to face UW-Superior at 1:30 p.m.
