MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State tennis (3-0, 3-0 NSIC) is home to host Carleton College at West Hills Tennis and Fitness Center in Owatonna, Minnesota on Saturday, February 28 at 11 a.m. CT. It is one of just three home matches for MSU this spring.
 
Picked to finish second in the NSIC, the Mavericks are off to a strong start in 2026 under head coach Drew Hawthorne, with convincing wins over Minnesota Crookston (W, 6-1), MSU Moorhead (W, 6-1) and Minnesota Duluth (W, 7-0). All came against NSIC opponents in Winona over the past two weeks.
 
The Mavericks are 16-2 in singles matches and 7-2 in doubles. Freshman Julia Gurholt (Kimberly, Wisconsin) is 2-1 at No. 1 singles, including a win over preseason NSIC player of the year, senior Luzmary Diaz Castillo (MSU Moorhead) in a third set tiebreak 6-2, 2-6, 10-7. Gurholt surpassed 100 wins and was a three-time first-team all-conference athlete at Kimberly High School (east of Appleton, Wis.).
 
Gurholt teamed with senior McKenna DeMarce (Las Vegas, Nevada) at No. 1 doubles and the pair are 2-1 so far. Lucie Sliskova (Prachatice, Czechia) and Alma Vazquez (Queretaro, Mexico) are 2-0 at No. 2 doubles. Sliskova is also 2-0 at No. 4 singles and Vazquez is 3-0 at No. 3.
 
The Mavericks are currently second in the NSIC standings behind Augustana (7-1, 4-0 NSIC). MSU is ahead of third place Sioux Falls (3-1, 3-1) and Winona State (3-2, 3-1).
 
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Carleton College (7-0, 4-0 MIAC) plays as a member of NCAA Division II in the MIAC, where they are traditionally very strong in women's tennis. Giana Marks was named MIAC women's tennis player of the week for the second straight week on Monday. Marks won in both singles and doubles as the Knights defeated Winona State 7-0 on Feb. 21.
 
In six matches, only Luther College has picked up a team point against Carleton, losing 6-1 on Sept. 27. The Knights topped Saint Mary's University 7-0 last time out on Valentine's Day.
 
Last year, Carlton finished 15-4 overall and fell to No. 21 Gustavus Adolphus in the MIAC Championship 4-3.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Carleton bested Minnesota State 4-3 in Owatonna last season on March 7. Ranked No. 28 at the time, the Knights took the team doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. The Mavericks collected singles wins at No. 2 (Avery Stilwell), No. 1 (Freia Lawrence) and No. 3 (DeMarce).