MANKATO, Minn. - Selected to finish second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference this spring, Minnesota State tennis begins with a tough test at Gustavus Adolphus College (1-2) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Swanson Tennis Center. The Mavericks feature a veteran team that includes 11 returners and six seniors. They are led by first year head coach Matt Hokanson, hired on June 18, 2024. Gustavus women's tennis closed last spring 16-11 overall, including 9-1 in the MIAC (NCAA Division III).

Freia Lawrence (senior, Mallorca, Spain) was selected as Preseason NSIC Player of the Year. Lawrence was All-NSIC Singles and All-NSIC Doubles in 2023-24 after achieving a 10-4 singles record (5-2 at No. 1). She enters the season on a three-match win streak and pairs with senior Avery Stilwell at No. 1 doubles.

"Freia is our top player, and has consistently shown why she's one of the top players in the NSIC," Hokanson said. "She has multiple Division I individual wins from this fall, and looks ready to have an awesome last season here with Minnesota State."

The duo of Lawrence and Stilwell went 7-3 at the top spot in the lineup last spring. Stilwell (Litchfield, Minnesota) is expected to play in the No. 2 singles position after she was named All-NSIC Second Team last year. She held a 9-5 singles record. 

Other seniors on the roster include Elizabeth Felderman (Mandan, North Dakota), Hana Minisy (Cairo, Egypt), Brynn Psooy (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Taylor Julsrud (Rochester, Minnesota). Taina Cordeiro (Florianapolis, Brazil), McKenna DeMarce (Las Vegas, Nevada), Georgia Deml (Lakeville, Minnesota), Sutton Julsrud (Rochester, Minnesota) and Ellie Peterson (Hutchinson, Minnesota) returned as juniors. Anya Kallenbach (Norwalk, Iowa) joined the Mavericks as a freshman in the fall.

The Mavericks finished 11-7 overall in 2023-24, including 7-2 in NSIC matches. The team defeated MSU Moorhead and UMary in the NSIC Tournament before falling 4-0 to Augustana in the Championship in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With nine first place votes, the Vikings are again picked to win the NSIC. Augustana has won each of the last 14 NSIC Championships, including an intact streak of 160 consecutive NSIC regular season matches. 

The Mavericks also took runner-up in the NSIC in 2022-23 and last qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09. The Mavericks last conference championship came in 1989 (NCC). Conference play begins February 22 at MSU Moorhead in Bismarck, North Dakota. MSU plays its home matches at Swanson Tennis Center in St. Peter, Minnesota and West Hills Tennis and Fitness Center in Owatonna, Minnesota.