Staff Writer- Katie Thomas
On Jan. 24th, 2026, Gustavus Adolphus College Women’s Tennis team began their 2026 season opener. They started off with a strong 6-1 victory, hopefully setting the tone for the rest of the year. They played Minnesota State University-Mankato, an NCAA Division II program, at home in St. Peter, Minnesota. This win helped establish Gustavus’ tennis program as a consistent contender in collegiate women’s tennis.
From start to finish, every player showed their athletic ability and teamwork, showing how tennis is not just about individual excellence but also about the team’s performance. From the jump, Gustavus started off by setting the tone with a solid performance in doubles play, which allowed them to secure the crucial first point of the day. By winning the point in doubles, which is won by taking two of three doubles matches, Gustavus’ team had momentum going into singles later on. The Gusties went above and beyond and accomplished, through hard work, a doubles sweep. They won all three contests with Sophomore Karina Elvestrom and Senior Kaya De Bruijn winning on court #1 with a 6-2 victory. Senior Molly Austin and Sophomore Lanie Davis followed with a 6-3 result at court #2, and Junior Ella De Young and Senior Allison Szalay closed out the sweep with a 6-4 win at court #3. This gave the Gusties a confidence boost that would carry over into singles competition.
Winning the doubles point gave Gustavus a 1-0 lead, and afterwards went into single play. In singles, the Gusties showed their skillset across their lineup, claiming five of six matches to finish off with a 6-1 final score. At #2 singles, De Bruijn gave a strong afternoon performance with a solid 6-1, 6-3 victory. Her performance was both fun to watch and well deserved alongside the hard work she put in. She showcased aggressive baseline play and an efficient offense that often kept her opponent on the defensive. While De Bruijn’s match put the Gusties in a strong spot, the Mavericks struck back at #1 singles. This is where they claimed their only point of the day with a 7-5, 6-1 win. This result put the Mavericks on the board and demonstrated the competitive nature of Minnesota State and their hard work to stay in the match. For Gustavus, however, the loss at #1 only fueled the team to secure their win, and they took off. Davis continued the winning stride at #5 singles, securing a 6-2, 6-3 victory that pushed Gustavus to 3-1. The Gustavus team needed just one more point to secure the match; #3 singles were up next. Austin delivered under pressure. Her 6-2, 6-3 win not only added to her personal achievements but gave Gustavus the fourth team point they needed to secure the overall victory for Gustavus. This kind of performance under pressure is not easy to do and hard to achieve. It illustrates Austin’s abilities and calmness under pressure.
Even after the match was decided, Gustavus continued to compete hard in the remaining positions, showing sportsmanship and team culture. On court #4, De Young staged an impressive comeback. After dropping the first set 6-2, she worked hard to take the second 6-1 and the third 6-3. De Young demonstrated resilience and mental toughness in this match. Meanwhile, Szalay closed the overall competition and the day with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win at #6 singles, securing the final tally at 6-1. This season-opening victory is an important win for the Gustavus Women’s Tennis team. It brings early confidence to not only the overall team but each individual player, especially given the impressive performances across both doubles and singles. This team finished the 2025 season with an MIAC Playoff championship and an NCAA tournament berth, so this result reinforces their success. Building momentum early on before heading deeper into the competitive schedule is good to have and continue their season.
The showcase of talent, strategy, and resilience on match day is fun to watch, especially when watching the Gusties. Ultimately, the 6-1 win for Gustavus Adolphus College over Minnesota State University-Mankato was a great season opener. The Gusties play next on Jan. 31st at home. Come cheer on the Gusties for an exciting match against the University of Sioux Falls. Good luck and go Gusties!