Box Score The Peacock women's tennis team opened up their spring season in Winona, Minn. on Saturday. Upper Iowa scored a 4-3 decision over St. Cloud State University to begin their run toward a return to the NSIC Championships this spring. SCSU scored the first point by winning the doubles action 2-1, but UIU won four of the six singles matches to rally for the win.
 
RECAP... UIU won the No. 3 doubles match 6-3 behind the efforts of freshmen Varvara Ogorodnikova and Mya Herrmann. Returners Shakhnaza Zhanatova and Deimante Krivickaite dropped a hard fought 7-5 decision at No. 1 doubles, while Carolina Abella and Alejandra Abella lost 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.
 
Krivickaite began UIU's rally with a win at No. 2 singles by a 6-1, 6-1 count. The Huskies retook the lead 3-1 after wins at No. 4 and No. 5 as the Abella sisters lost their matches. Herrmann (No. 6) and Ogorodnikova (No. 3) pulled out big wins to even the match at 3-3. Herrmann earned her victory by set scores of 6-1, 6-0, while Ogorodnikova won her first set 7-5 before locking up the win with a 6-0 second set. Zhanatova, UIU's senior, stepped in the final match of the night and scored a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win over Mirei Ichida at No. 1.

QUOTABLE... "I'm really proud of the team today. They played their hearts out and kept fighting. Shaha played an incredible match against an impressive freshman from St. Cloud State. She secured the victory for us today and showed how much of a fighter she is. Against Minnesota Duluth, we will need to start stronger in doubles and do the job again in singles." - Head Coach Leo Millet.
 
UP NEXT... The Peacocks will take on the University of Minnesota Duluth in Winona on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
 
Upper Iowa 4, St. Cloud State 3
Doubles competition
1. Ichida, Mirei/Kedrowkski, Jill (SCSU) def. Zhanatova,Shakhnaza/Krivickaite,Deimante (UIU) 7-5
2. Olson, Claire/Kinny, Shanna (SCSU) def. Abella,Carolina/Abella,Alejandra (UIU) 6-0
3. Ogorodnikova,Varvara/Herrmann,Mya (UIU) def. Muntifering, Katheri/Scheck, Abby (SCSU) 6-3
 
Singles competition
1. Zhanatova,Shakhnaza (UIU) def. Ichida, Mirei (SCSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
2. Krivickaite,Deimante (UIU) def. Kinny, Shanna (SCSU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Ogorodnikova,Varvara (UIU) def. Kedrowkski, Jill (SCSU) 7-5, 6-0
4. Olson, Claire (SCSU) def. Abella,Alejandra (UIU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Muntifering, Katheri (SCSU) def. Abella,Carolina (UIU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Herrmann,Mya (UIU) def. Wuollet, Margaret (SCSU) 6-1, 6-0