CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's tennis team opens up play against Bemidji State University Wed., Feb. 5 at Gillett Recreation and Fitness Center in Bemidji, Minn. The match will lift the lid on the 2020 season for the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles are looking to improve in their third season under Head Coach Krayton Nash. Bemidji State comes into their home match with a 3-1 mark on the slate.

Minnesota Crookston is led by two returnees in Ashley Smith (Sr., Staples, Minn.) and Karli Renney (Jr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.). Smith competed at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, and No. 1 doubles for the Golden Eagles in 2019. Renney played mostly at   No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles for Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles also welcome in newcomers Latafale Niumeitolu (Fr., Sandy, Utah), Ashley Chomyn (Fr., Winnipeg, Manitoba), Brandi Davis (Fr., Pine City, Minn.), and Samantha Hartung (Fr., Albany, Minn.).

The match will open up a busy week as the Golden Eagles also take on Augustana University Sat., Feb. 8, and University of Sioux Falls Sun., Feb. 9.

Bemidji State has been led by Ariadna Lopez-Simo with a 3-1 mark at No. 1 singles. Hannah Alme comes in with a 4-0 record at the No. 4 singles slot. In doubles, Brooke Mimmack and Hannah Alme are 1-1 at No. 1 doubles and 2-0 at No. 2 doubles. Lopez-Simo and Laney Rutkowski are 0-2 at No. 1 doubles and 1-0 at No. 2 doubles.

Sioux Falls opens up their 2020 slate this weekend. They posted an 8-9 mark on the 2019 slate. The Cougars are paced by Chloe Jefferies, who enters the slate after going 10-5 at No. 1 singles last season. Megan Quandt also returns after posting a 6-10 record at No. 2 singles. In doubles, Jefferies and Joelle Thorfinnson went 3-0 at the No. 1 spot in 2019.

Augustana currently has a 3-0 mark on the 2020 season. The Vikings have been led by Laura Arce Vieyra with a 2-1 mark, while Grace Goble is 1-1 this season. In doubles, Augustana has looked to Arce Vieyra and Goble with a 1-2 mark at No. 1 singles. Taylor Jackson and Anca Rusu are currently an unblemished 3-0 at No. 3 doubles.