ST. PETER, Minn. – Minnesota State tennis began the 2025 spring season with a 4-3 win over NCAA Division III Gustavus Adolphus Saturday afternoon at Swanson Tennis Center.
 
Head Coach Matt Hokanson earned his first career win at the helm and the Mavericks picked up the doubles point, then used the middle of the singles lineup to prevail, including a pair of three setters at No. 2 (Avery Stilwell) and No. 3 (McKenna DeMarce).
 
"It was an absolutely massive win for our team to start the year off the right way," Hokanson said. "Gustavus has a top-25 team in Division III this year and they play the right way and always show up ready to battle with a ton of energy. To be behind 3-2 on the brink and have two of our captains Kenna and Avery step up and get the job done in three set matches was encouraging to see. We have some big confidence matches coming up, and there is work to be done, but today was a huge step forward in the right direction."
 
The Mavericks (1-0, 0-0 NSIC) hit the road to face MSU Moorhead and University of Mary on Feb. 22-23 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Gustavus (1-3, 0-0 MIAC) plays next at Concordia.
 
SCORES
Doubles

1. MSU (Freia Lawrence/Avery Stilwell) def. GAC (Karina Elvestrom/Kaya DeBruijn) 6-4
2. MSU (McKenna DeMarce/Elizabeth Felderman) def. GAC (Molly Austin/Allison Szalay) 6-1
3. GAC (Brooke Haddorff/Parla Yakimora) def. MSU (Georgia Deml/Brynn Psooy) 6-0

 
Order of finish: N/A
 
Singles

1. GAC (Karina Elvestrom) def. MSU (Freia Lawrence) 7-6(2), 6-3
2. MSU (Avery Stilwell) def. GAC (Kaya DeBruijn) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
3. MSU (McKenna DeMarce) def. GAC (Molly Austin) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
4. MSU (Hana Minisy) def. GAC (Lanie Davis) 6-2, 6-0
5. GAC (Noor Omar) def. MSU (Elizabeth Felderman) 6-4, 6-4
6. GAC (Pavla Yakimova) def. MSU (Georgia Deml) 6-2, 6-3

Order of finish: N/A