Women's Tennis | 1/29/2026 7:51:00 PM
BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston tennis team was picked to finish fifth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Golden Eagles matched their program-highest ranking of tied for fifth in 2025.
The Golden Eagles have become a contender in the NSIC over the past three seasons with a combined 24 wins. Minnesota Crookston has consecutive NSIC Tournament appearances, and notched a program-best 10 wins in 2024. Minnesota Crookston's
Daniela de Lucas Rivera (Jr., Madrid, Spain) was selected as the program's NSIC Player to Watch. She posted an 8-5 mark at No. 1 singles in 2025 as a sophomore. In doubles, she paired with
Ariadna Solis Guals (Jr., Santpedor, Spain) for three wins. Minnesota Crookston returns eight players from the 2025 roster. In addition to de Lucas Rivera,
Asli Oktay went 3-9 at No. 2 singles.
Nadia Cases Mundet posted a 5-1 mark at the No. 3 slot.
Abril Manas Hernandez was 4-2 at No. 5 singles. Solis Guals was 3-5 at the No. 3 slot, while
Kavya Singh (Sr., Agra, India) went 4-3 at the No. 6 spot.
Katie VanPelt (So., Austin, Minn.) and
Abby VanPelt (So., Austin, Minn.) also return to the fray.
Augustana University was picked to win the conference with 100 points and 10 first-place votes, while Minnesota State was slotted second. Luzmary Diaz Castillo of MSU Moorhead is the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.
