Behind five singles losses, the Southwest Minnesota State tennis team dropped its 2013 season opener 7-2 to Macalester College on Saturday in St. Paul.
No. 2 singles player Shelby Monahan had the sole singles victory for the Mustangs (0-1 overall), defeating Katelyn Glenna by default.
The Mustangs failed to win a set in singles competition, though Katie Kienitz came closest, falling to Macalester's No. 1 Paige Schaefer 7-6 (7-1), 6-0)
SMSU's other match victory came from the No. 1 duo of Kienitz and Allison Niedert, who used an 8-5 win to knock off Glenna and Alicia Roopchand. The other SMSU doubles pairings of Shelby Monahan and Crystal Overbaugh, as well as Samantha Ritter and Aileen Roman were beaten 8-5 and 8-4 respectively.
The Mustangs are back in action on Saturday, when they open up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play versus Winona State at the Lifetime Fitness Oakdale complex in St. Louis Park.
Fact Box
Macalester College 7, SMSU 2
Singles
No. 1-Paige Schaefer (MC) def. Katie Kienitz 7-6 (7-1), 6-0
No. 2-Shelby Monahan (SMSU) def. Katelyn Glenna by default
No. 3-Alicia Roopchand (MC) def. Crystal Overbaugh 6-4, 6-4
No. 4-Gabby Queenan (MC) def. Allison Niedert 6-1, 6-4
No. 5-Rachel Seidner (MC) def. Hannah Hagen 6-4, 6-4
No. 6-Kayleigh Roach (MC) def. Samathan Ritter 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1-Kienitz/Niedert (SMSU) def. Glenna/Roopchand 8-5
No. 2-Schaefer/Queenan (MC) def. Monahan/Overbaug 8-5
No. 3-Seidner/Roach (MC) def. Ritter/Aileen Roman 8-4