OWATONNA, Minn. – Singles continued to be a strong point Saturday for Minnesota State tennis as the Mavericks cruised to a 7-0 win over MSU Moorhead at Owatonna Indoor Tennis Center to open NSIC play.
 
The Mavericks (2-0, 1-0 NSIC) host University of Mary next on Sunday at 9 a.m.
 
MSU also shut out the Dragons 7-0 last season in St. Peter and have won each of the past three matchups.
 
After taking doubles wins at No. 2 and No. 3, MSU's Freia Lawrence (Mallorca, Spain) overpowered Shaelyn Johnson at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-2.
 
Junior Avery Stilwell (Litchfield, Minnesota) also closed out a straightforward win at No. 3 singles 6-1, 7-5 over Tiannah Gu.
 
Senior Chiara Carnelutti (Cordoba, Argentina) went down a break in the first set 4-2 but used a combination of offense and defense from the baseline to come back in the second set. The Argentine outlasted Luzmary Diaz Castillo in a super tiebreak played in lieu of a third set 10-7. An extended rally on the final point of the match ended after a deep lob forced an error from Castillo against the back curtain.
 
An apparent injury on court two helped Daria Podmogilnaia to a win by default at No. 4. Elizabeth Felderman surrendered just two games at No. 5 to Madison Bell 6-0, 6-2 and McKenna DeMarce went untested at No. 6 with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Claire Nemmers.

"I am extremely happy with today's performance," said head coach Tristen Bryant-Otake. "We got our first conference win of the season under our belt. We battled hard in singles and fought to get all seven points. We know where we need to improve and where we excelled today. I'm looking forward to building off this win in tomorrow's match against UMary."
 
SCORES
Doubles
No. 1 – MSUM (Luzmary Diaz Castillo/Shaelyn Johnson) def. MSU (Chiara Carnelutti/Avery Stilwell), 6-1
No. 2 – MSU (Freia Lawrence/Hana Minisy) def. MSUM (Madison Bell/Tiannah Gu) 6-3
No. 3 – MSU (Elizabeth Felderman/McKenna DeMarce) def. MSUM (Katryna Hansen/Claire Nemmers) 6-0
 
Singles
No. 1 – MSU (Chiara Carnelutti) def. MSUM (Luzmary Diaz Castillo) 2-6, 6-4, 10-7
No. 2 – MSU (Freia Lawrence) def. MSUM (Shaelyn Johnson) 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 – MSU (Avery Stilwell) def. MSUM (Tiannah Gu) 6-1, 7-5
No. 4 – MSU (Daria Podmogilnaia) def. MSUM (Katryna Hansen) default
No. 5 – MSU (Elizabeth Felderman) def. MSUM (Madison Bell) 6-0, 6-2
No. 6 – MSU (McKenna DeMarce) def. MSUM (Claire Nemmers) 6-1, 6-1