DULUTH, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Tennis team opened its season with a decisive 7-0 victory over the College of St. Scholastica Saturday at the Duluth Indoor Sports Center, followed by a hard-fought 4-3 victory against the University of Minnesota Duluth later in the day. The Beavers showcased their strength in both doubles and singles play, securing all three doubles matches in the first game and winning the doubles point in the second.
 
In the match against St. Scholastica, Paula Garcia Acebal led the charge with a win at No. 1 singles and contributed to a victory at No. 2 doubles. Ana Lucia Ibanez Castro also impressed with a success at No. 4 singles and a win at No. 3 doubles. Mia Leshem secured a win at No. 2 singles and helped clinch victory at No. 1 doubles. The Beavers demonstrated their dominance in doubles, with Leshem and Marla Davies winning 6-3 at No. 1, while Garcia Acebal and Lauren Rutten matched that score at No. 2. Ibanez Castro and Valesca Rodriguez completed the sweep with a 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles.
 
In singles play against St. Scholastica, Garcia Acebal triumphed 6-3, 6-1 at No. 1, Leshem dominated with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2, and Davies added a convincing 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 3. Ibanez claimed a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 4, while Rutten secured a 6-2, 7-6 win at No. 5. Rodriguez rounded out the sweep with a 7-6, 6-0 victory at No. 6.
 
Doubles 
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Mia Leshem/Marla Davies (BSU) def. Paula Sendele/Sophia Cosgrove (CSS) 6-3 
Lauren Rutten/Paula Garcia Acebal (BSU) def. Claire Rewertz/Chloe Hasbargen (CSS) 6-3 
Ana Lucia Ibanez/Valesca Rodriguez (BSU) def. Greta Clark/Hailey Hokanson (CSS) 6-1 
 
Singles 
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Paula Garcia Acebal (BSU) def. Paula Sendele (CSS) 6-3, 6-1 
Mia Leshem (BSU) def. Sophia Cosgrove (CSS) 6-2, 6-0 
Marla Davies (BSU) def. Renata Sosa (CSS) 6-0, 6-2 
Ana Lucia Ibanez (BSU) def. Claire Rewertz (CSS) 6-2, 6-2 
Lauren Rutten (BSU) def. Bella Vincent (CSS) 6-2, 7-6 
Valesca Rodriguez (BSU) def. Hailey Hokanson (CSS) 7-6, 6-0 
 
In the match against the University of Minnesota Duluth, Marla Davies continued her strong performance, winning at No. 3 singles and contributing to a victory at No. 1 doubles alongside Mia Leshem. Ana Lucia Ibanez also made her mark with a win at No. 4 singles and a victory at No. 3 doubles with Valesca Rodriguez. The Beavers dominated the doubles competition, with Garcia Acebal and Rutten winning 6-2 at No. 2, and Rodriguez and Ibanez Castro winning 6-4 at No. 3. Leshem and Davies were leading 6-4 at No. 1 doubles.
 
In singles play against UMD, Leshem delivered a solid performance at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. Davies won convincingly at No. 3 singles, finishing 6-2, 6-2, while Ibanez secured a straight-set win at No. 4 with a score of 7-5, 6-3. Garcia Acebal battled hard at No. 2 but fell 2-6, 6-1, 9-11, while Rutten faced a tough defeat at No. 5 singles, losing 2-6, 0-6. Rodriguez fought through a challenging match at No. 6, ultimately losing 3-6, 7-5, 8-10.
 
Doubles 
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Leshem, Mia/Davies, Marla (BSU) def. Courtney Eppen/Paige Heideman (UMD) 6-4 
Garcia Acebal, Paula/Rutten, Lauren (BSU) def. Morgan Hammer/Olivia Gorton (UMD) 6-2 
Rodriguez, Valesca/Ibanez Castro, Ana Lucia (BSU) def. Carly Chaney/Isabelle Simon (UMD) 6-4 
 
Singles 
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Leshem, Mia (BSU) def. Carly Chaney (UMD) 6-3, 6-4 
Sydney Friedrich (UMD) def. Garcia Acebal, Paula (BSU) 6-2, 1-6, 11-9 
Davies, Marla (BSU) def. Morgan Hammer (UMD) 6-2, 6-2 
Ibanez Castro, Ana Lucia (BSU) def. Mia Miller (UMD) 7-5, 6-3 
Paige Heideman (UMD) def. Rutten, Lauren (BSU) 6-2, 6-0 
Olivia Gorton (UMD) def. Rodriguez, Valesca (BSU) 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 
 
Looking ahead, Bemidji State will travel to face University of Minnesota Morris and University of Minnesota Crookston Friday, Feb. 6 at 3 and 6 p.m. in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State women's tennis program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X or Instagram or like them on Facebook.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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