With an overall record of 20-0 last semester, the women’s tennis team started the spring season where it left off last fall.

Competing in its first meet this year at Winona State (Minn.), the women kept their undefeated record alive by defeating Winona State 7-2.

Coach Tom Gillman said the team is experienced but it has had to adjust to new lineups.

“They are just getting comfortable with the lineups,” Gillman said. “This match against Winona State helped them get more experience.”

Every player did a great job at the meet, Gillman said.

“Alison (Hover) and Jennifer (Stafford) did a great job in doubles for us,” Gillman said. “They played against a very aggressive team that gave them a challenge last year, but this time they were ready.”

Hover, a senior, and Stafford, a junior, won the No. 1 doubles match with a score of 8-4.

Hover also defeated Karen Darveaux of Winona State, who was the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference 2002 player of the year, in her No. 1 singles match. Hover said the team played well in its first match.

“(Winona State is) a very competitive team,” she said. “There were a lot of close matches.”

There were a lot of new people in the lineup, she said, and they did very well.

“Annie Krueger and (sophomore) Lindsay Lee did a great job,” Hover said. “We want to be able to compete down the lineup, and that’s what we did.”

Gillman said he was impressed with the performance of Krueger.

“She seemed reasonably relaxed for her first dual match,” he said.

Krueger, a freshman in the No. 6 singles position, pulled off a 6-2, 6-4 win over Katie Katterheinrich from Winona State to help the Blugolds in their team victory. Krueger said it was exciting to play in her first varsity match.

“It felt nice to know that the team and coach (were) behind me,” Krueger said. “I was a little nervous because the match counted towards our score.”

Stafford said she felt that the team started off well.

“We play a nationally ranked team over spring break and I am interested in seeing how we do,” she said.

Some of the matches have more importance than others, Gillman said, but the team’s main goal is to work toward nationals in Madison.

“I don’t see any reasons why we can’t play great tennis by then,” Gillman said. “I am confident in this team.”