GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's tennis team showed improvements in their first match of the season Friday, February 4 against St. Cloud State University. The Golden Eagles fell 6-1 to the Huskies at Choice Health and Fitness in Grand Forks, N.D., but picked up their first victory in a singles match since 2018. Madeleine Schneider (So., Gartringen, Germany) picked up the victory, the first since Adrianna Tiede got a victory at No. 3 singles March 5, 2018 against Upper Iowa University.

Minnesota Crookston opens the season with a 0-1 mark, while St. Cloud State moves to 1-0. The match was the first for Head Coach Josh Lunak in his second stint as head coach. He originally held the role from 2007-13.

Schneider, a transfer from Drury University took down Maria Paz Aoki, 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 1 singles spot. At No. 2 singles, Michelle Swyter (Jr., Perham, Minn.) tested Shanna Kinny in the first set, but ultimately fell 7-5, 6-2. At the No. 3 spot, Sarah Velasquez (So., Chino, Calif.) took three games in the first set, and one in the second, but was defeated 6-3, 6-1 by Claudia Munoz Perez. At the No. 4 slot, Tasha Achermann (So., Motley, Minn.) fell 6-1, 6-0 to Samantha Fitzpatrick. At the No. 5 spot, Samantha Gutierrez (So., Riverside, Calif.) picked up three games in the first set, but was defeated 6-3, 6-0 by Olivia Fredrickson. At the No. 6 slot, Kaydance Hinn (Fr., Coon Rapids, Minn.) picked up four games in the first set and three in the second, but she fell 6-4, 6-3 to Maria Molitor.

In doubles, the No. 1 pair of Schneider and Velasquez took three games, but fell 6-3 to Paz Aoki and Arisa Kashima. At the No. 2 spot, Achermann and Gutierrez were defeated 6-0 by Kinny and Munoz Perez. At the No. 3 slot, Swyter and Hinn picked up two games, but were defeated by Molitor and Fredrickson, 6-2.

The Golden Eagles remain at home to host the University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday, February 5 at 4 p.m. at Choice Health and Fitness.