DULUTH, Minn. - The Golden Eagle tennis team from the University of Minnesota Crookston travelled to Arrowhead Tennis Center in Duluth, Minn. First, they took on U of M neighbors from Duluth. In the morning matchups against UMD, UMC suffered a 7-2 loss, however, an improvement from last night's 0-9.
 
During the second set of matches, the Crookston tennis squad repeated their morning form, losing 7-2 to Gustavus Adolphus College.
 
In the morning's set of games against Duluth at doubles No. 1 Catie Brown (Jr., Powell Butte, Ore./Animal Science) fought alongside Whitney Erickson (Fr., Spring Valley, Minn./Early Childhood Education) once again, as they were able to stand proud against Alyssa Brunell/Kera Saemann, but fell to them by the score of 8-4.
 
The second pair of doubles at No. 2 was Christina Smith (Fr. Oylen, Minn./Communications) and Nikki Dogan (Fr., Grand Forks, ND/Health Science). They faced Drew DeCobey/Shelby Benkofske. Neither Smith nor Dogan were unable to get anything going and lost 8-0.
 
The last pair of doubles, Rachelle Alcini (Sr., Ann Arbor, Mich./Health Science) and Chelsea Burrows (So., Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice) at No. 3 saw Emma Bertels/Katie Baasch. The game went in a similar way the No. 2 doubles did, the score being 8-0 as well.
 
At singles, the Golden Eagles were able to stand their ground, at least when it came to No. 1 and No. 2, both taken by the University of Minnesota Crookston. Brown at No. 1 dropped the first set 4-6, but was able to recover and turn the game around. The second set was completely controlled by Brown, posting a 6-1 score. By the time the tie-breaker came around, Brown battled out a 10-8 set to win the match.
 
Erickson's morning at singles went nearly identically as it went for Brown, however, meant a little more in her career. Her 2-1 overall victory over Kara Saemann was her first career victory at singles. First set, Erickson's opponent Saemann stole the set 6-0. Erickson was capable to come back just like Brown did, allowing more room for Saemann to play, but taking the second set 6-4. 10-8 in the third set was what Whitney needed to secure a second victory for UMC for the singles.
 
Unfortunately, that was all the Golden Eagle singles were able to do. No. 3 through No. 6 all were unable to match up against Duluth, all going 0-6 and 0-6. It was Smith falling to Benkofske, Dogan to DeCorsey, Alcini to Kaitlin Wohnoutka, and Burrows to Jillian Klasen.
 
Later that day, when the Golden Eagles took on the Golden Gusties from Gustavus Adolphus College, it was only the Brown/Erickson double able to get away with a win at doubles. They were at No. 1 against Cal Carlson/Taylor Shortly. The score 8-2 meant the Golden Eagle tennis player Erickson won her first game at doubles in her career, reaching a second career milestone since the morning.
 
At the No. 2 double, Smith's and Dogan's game was not enough for Ally Baker/Lauren Ihle duo, scoring 8-1 over Crookston.
 
The last, third doubles Kaity Johnson/Maggie Nelson seemed to be too much for Alcini and Burrows, taking the win easily 8-0.
 
The singles matches of the Golden Eagle women results went into favor of Gustavus Augustus College, outside of No. 1 single Brown. She managed to take Baker down in two sets, 6-1 and 6-1.
 
After that, No. 2 Erickson faced Shortly. Whitney played well in the first set, winning 6-4. She was, however, unable to repeat her success from the morning or doubles, losing 5-7 and 1-10.
No. 3's Smith and Carlson game scoreboard read 0-6, 0-6 after two sets, Carlson walking away the winner.
 
The No. 4 match featured Dogan against Sofia Huitron, but the results were identical to the previous match, 0-6 and 0-6 in Golden Gustie favor. The same can be said for No. 5 Alcini vs. Ihle (0-6, 0-6), as well as Burrows vs. Johnson (0-6, 0-6).
 
T the Golden Eagles will face University of Sioux Falls, Augustana College and Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn. at the end of February.
 
UMC's four-match home stretch following the long road trips features Concordia College, University of Mary, Minnesota State University Moorhead and Bemidji State University.
UMC wraps up the season with Southwest Minnesota State University and Minnesota State University – Mankato in Bemidji, Minn.
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.
 
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).