SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minnesota State tennis capped a 4-0 victory over No. 6 seed MSU Moorhead (7-9, 4-5 NSIC) in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals Friday at Heuther Family Match Pointe. The No. 3 seed Mavericks (10-6,7-2) will play No. 2 seed UMary (9-6, 7-2) in the semifinals Saturday (time TBD) with a chance to avenge a 4-3 loss to the Marauders during the regular season.
 
The Mavericks began with big wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Freia Lawrence and Avery Stilwell shutout Luzmary Castillo and Shaelyn Johnson 6-0 while Elizabeth Felderman and McKenna DeMarce finished off Katryna Hansen and Claire Nemmers by the same score.
 
The momentum carried into singles play. Felderman was the first to finish at No. 5 after she upended Madison Bell 6-0, 6-1. At No. 4, Daria Podmogilnaia also lost just one game against Katryna Hansen 6-1, 6-0. Senior Chiara Carnelutti clinched the fourth team point at No. 2, winning 6-2, 6-0 over Johnson. The remaining matches went unfinished.

"Our team is wonderful. It really feels like a family," said Carnelutti following the match. "We built that from last year. We have had very tough moments but we really feel united and are working toward that goal of getting the conference ring."
 
The victory marked the first career postseason win for MSU head coach Tristen Bryant-Otake and assistant coach Drew Hawthorne. The Mavericks made a run to the NSIC Championship last season after defeating UMary in the semifinals but fell to Augustana (winner of the last 12 NSIC Tournaments). The Marauders eliminated Winona State 4-1 Friday morning.

"We had a great all-around performance today," Bryant-Otake said. "We took care of business quickly and had some fun doing it. Looking forward to the rematch against UMary tomorrow."

"We are excited to play UMary in the semifinals once again," Carnelutti said. "It was very tough. It was close but we managed to get that W and we are hoping to win again to make it to the finals and get that rematch with Augustana again."
 
SCORES
Doubles

1. MSU (Freia Lawrence/Avery Stilwell) def. MSUM (Luzmary Castillo/Shaelyn Johnson) 6-0
2. MSU (Chiara Carnelutti/Daria Podmogilnaia) vs. MSUM (Madison Bell/Tiannah Gu) 3-2 unf.
3. MSU (Elizabeth Felderman/McKenna DeMarce) def. MSUM (Katryna Hansen/Claire Nemmers) 6-0 

Order of finish: 3,1
 
Singles

1. MSUM (Luzmary Castillo) vs. MSU (Freia Lawrence) 6-3, 1-0 unf.
2. MSU (Chiara Carnelutti) def. MSUM (Shaelyn Johnson) 6-2, 6-0
3. MSU (Avery Stilwell) vs. MSUM (Tiannah Gu) 7-6, unf.
4. MSU (Daria Podmogilnaia) def. MSUM (Katryna Hansen) 6-1, 6-0
5. MSU (Elizabeth Felderman) def. MSUM (Madison Bell) 6-0, 6-1
6. MSU (McKenna DeMarce) vs. MSUM (Claire Nemmers) 6-0, 4-2 unf. 

Order of finish: 5,4,2