SAINT PETER, Minn. – The No. 20 nationally ranked Gustavus Adolphus College women's tennis team battled the Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks, an NCAA Division II team, in their season opener on Saturday. The Gusties defeated the DII Mavericks by 6-1 final to open their 2026 campaign with a victory.
Gustavus earned the doubles point by sweeping the three matches.
Karina Elvestrom and
Kaya De Bruijn won their #1 match 6-2.
Molly Austin and
Lanie Davis followed with a 6-3 victory at #2 doubles. The Gusties secured the doubles sweep as
Ella De Young and
Allison Szalay took the #3 match 6-4.
Up 1-0, Gustavus needed to win three of the singles matches to secure the team win. De Bruijn started the Gusties on the right track with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at #2 singles. The Mavericks followed with a 7-5, 6-1 win at #1 singles, but Davis then finished her #5 singles match with a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Up 3-1 and needing just one more point to secure the team win, Austin answered the call with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in the #3 singles match to clinch the pivotal fourth team point to secure the team victory for Gustavus.
With the match in hand, the Gusties continued to compete in their remaining matches. De Young rallied from a 6-2 opening set loss to take set two 6-1 and set three 6-3, securing the comeback victory at #4 singles. Szalay wrapped up the meet with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win at #6 singles.
Up next for Gustavus is a pair of matches next Saturday, January 31. The Gusties open the day in the morning at 8:30 a.m. against Sioux Falls and then battle Minnesota Morris at 6:30 p.m. in the evening.
