OWATONNA, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women's tennis team used a doubles sweep to defeat Hamline University, 6-3, in its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) opener on Friday evening at Owatonna Tennis Center.

St. Olaf (1-0, 1-0 MIAC) used 8-6 and 8-7 victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles spots as part of the doubles sweep to take a 3-0 lead into singles. Hamline (1-1, 0-1 MIAC) managed to gain a split of the six singles matches, but wins from Ellie Bergstrand, Emily Otteson and Greta Prokosch were enough to give the Oles the victory.

In doubles, Bergstrand and Otteson cruised to an 8-1 win at No. 2 doubles before the Oles fought to victories in the other two matches. Kellis Brandt and Teresa Fawcett won their match at No. 3 doubles in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (5), while Prokosch and Sabrina Barboza edged their opponents at No. 1 doubles, 8-6, to complete the sweep.

Prokosch dropped just one game in her 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 5 singles and Otteson lost just three in her 6-2, 6-1 triumph at No. 4 singles to secure the team win.  Bergstrand was also victorious at No. 3 singles by a 6-2, 6-4 margin.

The Pipers picked up straight-set victories at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 singles. At No. 2 singles, Brandt forced Ali Kopiecki to a first-set tiebreaker before eventually falling, 7-6 (4), 6-1. Kopiecki finished as the runner-up at this fall's Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regional back in September.

St. Olaf returns to Owatonna Tennis Center on Sunday, Feb. 17 to face the University of St. Thomas at 1:30 p.m.