GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's tennis team hosted two home matches Fri., Feb. 28 and Sat., Feb. 29 at Choice Health and Fitness in Grand Forks, N.D. The Golden Eagles had a strong crowd of supporters both days at their home courts in Grand Forks, N.D. Minnesota Crookston fell 6-0 to Winona State University Friday, and 7-0 to Upper Iowa University Saturday.

The Golden Eagles fall to 0-9 with the losses. Winona State moved to 6-2 with the wins this weekend. Upper Iowa moves to 3-7 after splitting the weekend with Bemidji State University and the Golden Eagles.

On Friday, Winona State took the doubles point to start out the match. At the No. 1 spot, Kendra Kappes and Rachel Kelly defeated Latafale Niumeitolu (Fr., Sandy, Utah) and Ashley Smith (Sr., Staples, Minn.) 6-0. At the No. 2 spot, Ashley Chomyn (Fr., Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Karli Renney (Jr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) fell 6-0 to Rina Niehoff and Tayla Card.

In singles, Smith played at the No. 1 spot and was defeated 6-0, 6-0 by Beth Murman. At the No. 2 spot, Niumeitolu fell 6-0, 6-0 to Kappes. At No. 3 singles, Chomyn fell 6-0, 6-0 to Kaisey SKibba. At the No. 4 slot, Renney was upended by Kelly 6-0, 6-0, while at No 5 singles Samantha Hartung (Jr., Albany, Minn.) fell 6-0, 6-0 to Card.

Minnesota Crookston showed improvement on Saturday against Upper Iowa, especially in singles. At the No. 2 slot, Niumeitolu took a game off Varvara Ogorodnikova, 6-0, 6-1. Chomyn had the best performance of the day at No. 3 singles, as the dual-sport athlete who also competes in women's soccer along with Niumeitolu, took a game in the first set, and four games in the second set to put pressure on Alejandra Abella. Ultimately Chomyn fell 6-1, 6-4. At the No. 1 spot, Smith fell 6-0, 6-0 to Deimante Krivickaite. At the No. 4 spot, Renney was defeated 6-0, 6-0 by Carolina Abella, while Hartung fell 6-0, 6-0 to Mya Herrmann. At the No. 6 slot, Elaina Wall won by forfeit.

In doubles, the No. 1 duo of Smith and Niumeitolu was upended 6-0, 6-0 by Krivickaite and Alejandra Abella. At the No. 2 spot, Chomyn and Hartung fell 6-0 to Ogorodnikova and Carolina Abella. At the No. 3 doubles, Herrmann and Wall won by forfeit.
The Golden Eagles continue to show improvement all-around on the 2020 season as displayed in their recent matches.