St. Cloud State
Southwest Minnesota State University
Huskies battle in 4-3 loss to SMSU
2/13/2021 10:42:00 PM | Women's Tennis
LAKEVILLE, MINN. - After much anticipation, the St. Cloud State University tennis team opened the 2021 season Saturday evening in Lakeville, Minnesota. Though the Huskies fought valiantly, they fell to Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) in their season opener by a final score of 4-3.
St. Cloud State earned a key point in doubles play Saturday night, as the team won two of three matches to take an early 1-0 lead in the match. The Huskies No. 1 doubles team of Jill Kedrowski (St. Cloud, Minn. / Tech) and Frances Hina Goldsmith (Honolulu, Hawaii / Dixie State) dominated in their first doubles match together, defeating Cora Delich and Maegan Flight 6-2.
The other St. Cloud State doubles team to find success Friday was the team of Kylee Frisbie (Foley, Minn. / Foley) and Samantha Fitzpatrick (Rogers, Minn. / Rogers). The duo earned a key 7-5 victory at the No. 3 doubles slot, taking down the Mustangs team of Gwendolen Sior and Kennedy Torgerson. The Huskies No. 2 team of Olivia Fredrickson (Fridley, Minn. / Fridley) and Shanna Kinny (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield) lost 6-3 after an early break by Courtenay Leonard and Maja Luisa Harck.
St. Cloud State earned wins at the No. 2 and No. 6 singles slots to close the evening. Fitzpatrick opened the season with a pristine 2-0 individual record, as she took down Delich in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 as the Huskies No. 2 singles player. Fredrickson also earned St. Cloud State's other victory on the singles court, defeating SMSU's Rachel Steffen without dropping a set 6-0, 6-0.
Kedrowski nearly pulled off a vital win as the Huskies No. 4 singles player, which would have clinched a season opening victory for St. Cloud State. After dropping the first set 6-2, Kedrowski came roaring back in the second set 6-2 to force the decisive third. The senior captain and SMSU's Harck were even at 5-5 until Harck forced a late break to take the final set 7-5 and the match 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
Goldsmith, Kinny and Frisbie all lost in straight sets at their respective singles sports. No. 1 Goldsmith fell to Flight 6-1, 6-1 while Kinny battled but fell at the No. 3 spot 6-2, 6-0. Frisbie also played in a tight match as St. Cloud State's No. 5 singles player, but ultimate fell by a final score of 6-2, 7-5.
With the loss, the Huskies open the season with a 0-1 record both overall and in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play. St. Cloud State will continue its season on Sunday when it faces Minnesota State at 11 a.m. in Lakeville, Minnesota.
Players Mentioned
