DULUTH, Minn. - In a highly anticipated conference match between two programs that have consistently fought for the top spot in the UMAC, the University of Northwestern Women's Tennis team looked to avenge their two losses against the St. Scholastica Saints from the previous season (2019 due to a canceled season last spring).

The Eagles came out swinging in doubles. With early leads in each doubles match, the #3 doubles team of Sabrina Bush (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) and Jessica Gross (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) were the first to finish, winning 8-6. Shortly after, the Eagles added to their lead with Taylar Smith (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) and Ellie Dodge closing with an 8-4 victory at #2 doubles. And in a back and forth match, Mafee Rinta (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) and Belinda Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) were able to force a tiebreaker at 7-7. Trailing 4-6 in the tiebreaker, Mafee and Belinda were able to win the next four points to close out the match and give the Eagles a 3-0 lead going into singles play.

In singles, the Saints responded with gutsy performances at #1 and #3 singles to bring the score within one. With a 3-2 lead, Weddle (#2 singles) was able to win her second set in a tiebreaker 8-6. In the third set super tiebreaker, Belinda played with a cool control and emerged victorious with a 10-6 score, bringing the Eagles to four wins on the day and one away from securing the team match.

In Smith's #4 singles match, she faced an early deficit at 2-5 but was able to storm back securing the next five games. With the Eagles within a set of clinching the match, Taylar was able to get a late break to win the match 7-5, 6-4. With Smith's win at #4 singles, the Eagles earned their fifth point and clinched the team match.

With two singles matches remaining, Ellie followed in the footsteps of Belinda dropping her first set 2-6, turning it around and winning 6-4 in her second set and adding a point to the Eagles victory, winning 10-4 in the third set super tiebreaker.

With the Eagles lead at 6-2, the final match of the day was at #6 singles, where the Eagles' Sabrina won in straight sets 7-6, 6-4. With that win, the Eagles closed out the match winning 7-2.

Heading into their match against UW-Superior, the Eagles control their own destiny to become outright regular season champions. Before Northwestern faces the Yellowjackets in their final conference match of the season, the Eagles have two more non-conference contests coming up. The first is a home match with Hamline on Monday, April 26, at 4pm.